Investors in troubled Keydata-backer Lifemark have been relegated to seventh place in the company's creditors ranking by Norwich & Peterborough (N&P) and CarVal's loan provision.

The recovery in both France and Germany, Europe's largest economies, slowed considerably in the third quarter.

London's FTSE opened 1.7% down this morning on a poor day for global stocks, following heavy losses in Asia and fresh fears for the Irish economy.

Officials in Ireland and the EU yesterday moved closer to conceding the heavily indebted nation may require a bailout.

I have often urged the wider financial services sector to engage more with Parliament and not leave all the lobbying to trade associations.

The FSCS is facing angry calls from both IFAs and investors to make its decision-making process more transparent, after two controversial judgments involving Lifemark-backed Keydata bonds and Lehman Brothers-backed NDF products.

Payment Protection Insurance continues to top the financial Ombudsman's product complaints list, attracting 11% more claims in the three months to 30 September versus the previous quarter.

The Bank of England warns inflation is likely to stay above the 2% target throughout 2011, given the upcoming rise in VAT and continuing increases in import prices.

Alun Beynon, the head of Aegon's individual protection business, will step down from December.

Government austerity measures may have to be rethought if the recovery slows, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.