Fund groups are making millions of pounds by lending out client money to speculators, new research from wealth manager SCM Private has claimed.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has slashed its forecast for UK GDP growth this year for the third time as the economy continues to wane.

Fidelity has converted Michael Clark's top performing Income Plus fund into its MoneyBuilder range, scrapping the initial charge on the product.

Gold prices took a nose dive overnight as investors u-turned on risk assets ahead of an expected round of further stimulus in the US, leaving the price more than $160 lower.

Fidelity is to rename its top performing UK Opportunities fund to better reflect its investment policy.

Gold soared above $1,900 for the first time overnight as investors continue to flock to the precious metal amid ongoing turmoil in financial markets.

Many investors opt for a second property to act as their nest egg for retirement, but equities have significantly outperformed the asset class in the longer term.

Brent crude fell back sharply towards $100 overnight as the Libyan uprising moved closer to its conclusion.

US markets have opened lower as investors take a dim view of Hewlett Packard's latest acquisition and send its shares down 20%.

The UK government is understood to be prepared to shoot down proposals for a financial transaction tax being mooted by Germany and France.