The FSCS was right to levy investment intermediaries for the collapse of Keydata, a High Court judge has ruled, dashing adviser hopes of a £32m refund.

The German economy made a strong bounce-back in 2010, growing by 3.6%, according to provisional figures from the national statistics office.

UPDATE 12pm: The FTSE is 20 points higher while other key European markets have jumped 1.3% on news Portugal has succeeded in raising £1bn in a bonds auction, easing concerns over the country's need for an EU bailout.

The financial services group Scottish Friendly has reported sales rose by nearly half in 2010.

Not owning gold during the current financial turmoil is "a form of insanity", according to Cazenove's Robin Griffiths.

A further 450,000 people will be trapped in the government's tax chaos, HM Revenue and Customs admitted yesterday.

Merger-target Norwich & Peterborough (N&P) building society is carrying out a review of its IFA network with a view to selling off its 21 advisers.

Banks must be allowed to take risks if they are to step up to George Osborne's plans for a private sector-led recovery, Barclays CEO Bob Diamond told MPs this morning.

The regulator's about-turn to allow commission payments on Holloway-style income protection plans after 2012 proves the RDR neglected lower-premium paying consumers from the start.

Matthew Bullock, the CEO of troubled building society Norwich & Peterborough (N&P), is leaving the company amid takeover rumours and claims of a £50m misselling scandal of Keydata products.