AIFA plans to launch its own case-study based alternative assessment which will qualify advisers to QCF Level 5, a level above the new minimum for UK advisers set by the RDR.

Labour launched its manifesto today with a pledge to slash more than £6bn off the cost of business regulation by 2015.

Standards International and the ifs School of Finance are embarking on a joint venture to improve the skills and knowledge of financial advisers.

Ongoing FSA investigations into poor pension switching advice are expected to result in firms paying out more than £150m in redress to customers.

The FTSE is heading for a sixth straight weekly gain amid speculation a bailout for Greece is imminent.

Customers can move the price of beer and hot wings in a newly opened US bar, based on the market principals of supply and demand.

The FSA's immunity from civil action under conduct of business legislation is fuelling poor regulation and failure in the financial services industry, says an IFA support group.

People returning to work after Easter face a series of tax bombshells from today as the Chancellor seeks to pay down public debt.

Gordon Brown believes the large economies are close to agreeing a global tax on banks which would cost the financial sector billions of pounds a year - but he played down expectations of a final deal at the next G20 meeting in June.

Tesco has revealed it expects to gain a 10% share of Britain's financial services market, making it roughly as big as Abbey and more than half the size of Barclays.