Economics / Markets

Investors who go it alone will have to dedicate ten hours a week to managing their portfolio in order to beat inflation, according to one external asset manager.

Cyprus turned to Russia for help on Tuesday night after the country's parliament overwhelmingly rejected a tax on the deposits of bank savers.

The government is to announce further spending cuts in Wednesday's Budget, with the savings going to large-scale infrastructure projects designed to boost economic growth, according to reports.

Advisers should consider selling their businesses within the next 18 months before prices offered by consolidators fall, according to a consultancy firm.

Politicians in Cyprus are considering exempting bank accounts with deposits of 20,000 euros (£17,000) or less from the planned country-wide levy.

FIVE THINGS

Major indices across Europe fell in early trading on Monday as investors were spooked by Cyprus's decision to impose an unprecedented bank levy on deposits held in the country.

Chancellor George Osborne is to tell the electorate this week that his debt plans are in ruins, with the deadline for bringing UK debt down pushed back by many years.

Politicians in Cyprus are to hold an emergency parliamentary session to debate the 10bn-euro bailout which has angered the public.

CRYSTAL BALL