Economics / Markets

China has cut its annual economic growth target for the first time in eight years, lowering its forecast to below 8% for the first time since 2004.

Alliance Trust has upped its dividend by 7% and posted a turnaround in performance in its annual results, with the trust leaping to top quartile in its sector.

The British Chambers of Commerce has cut its forecast for UK GDP growth for 2012 and has called for the government to announce a modest fiscal stimulus should public sector borrowing come in under target for 2011/12.

Vladimir Putin has claimed a resounding victory in Russia's presidential election, provoking a furious response from opposition activists who alleged that the vote was marred by widespread fraud.

Recent market uncertainty has seen extreme volatility in investment markets over the last few years.

The government's use of quantitative easing (QE) has given pension funds a boost, Bank of England (BoE) economist David Miles has claimed.

Market participants are expecting interest rates in the UK to remain on hold until late 2014, according to Bank of England policymakers.

Axa is introducing faster pension transfers as part of a number of service upgrades to its Secure Advantage range.

Martin Weale voiced fears over "persistent" inflation yesterday in a hawkish speech underlining the growing splits at the Bank of England over the path of monetary policy.

Gujarat, once the driving force of Indian independence, is now set to lead the country's investment story, writes Ewan Thompson, investment director and head of emerging market equities at Neptune.