A trade body for English-speaking advisers operating in mainland Europe launched this month.

Positive Solutions has seen a major increase in demand for its financial planning services from law firms and accountants.

Legal & General made a loss of £720m in the first half of 2009, but makes no move to raise cash from investors.

US shares gained as investors took heart from better-than-expected US GDP numbers, showing the pace of economic decline is slowing.

The FSA has banned a mortgage broker for failing to pay his regulatory fees.

The abolition of factoring as part of the RDR is the biggest worry among IFAs, according to a report from NMG Financial Services Consulting.

Friends Provident has raised the age individuals can receive payouts on its income protection (IP) plans, from 65 to 70 for both men and women.

The credit crunch has cost world governments a combined total of over $10trn in support for financial institutions, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Intermediary mortgages are £200 more expensive each month than comparable direct products, according to research.

London's FTSE 100 index stalled this morning after reaching its highest point for almost seven months on Thursday.