Economics / Markets

PANCAKES

The FTSE 100 has traded flat at the open after gaining 1.9% yesterday - a day which also saw leading US indices reach their highest levels in four years.

Confidence in the financial services industry has dramatically improved in the last quarter, with life insurers and investment managers "particularly bullish", a poll shows.

RBS could start paying dividends to preference shareholders again later this year, which could lead to £400m capital raising, a report has suggested.

A strong performance from US and Asian stocks has helped push global equity indices to their strongest start to a year since 1998.

The "old boys network" that makes up the committees which set executive pay must end, a think tank says.

In the latest Interactive Financial Adviser debate, our panelists from Aberdeen Asset Management, Rathbone Unit Trust Management and S&P Capital IQ discussed Economic Outlook.

Euro finance ministers are considering increasing the size of the eurozone's rescue funds which were set up to bail out indebted nations.

Treasury resources were 'stretched and unprepared' for the 2008 financial crisis, according to a damning new report.

Retail investors are continuing to flock to fixed income funds, topping up their positions by over £500m last month, despite the rally in equities, Investment Management Association (IMA) figures show.