Economics / Markets

Nationals round-up: Terry Smith delivers on his promises, a comparison of equity release and downsizing and what the eurozone crisis means for your clients.

Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy are set to meet today as political commentators warn Europe is entering the end game for the crisis, which must be resolved this week to save the euro.

The Bank of England has warned lenders it is considering changes to the way bonuses are measured to make it far harder for investment bankers to justify their multi-million pound awards.

Aviva is considering selling a chunk of the billions of pounds worth of UK pension assets it owns as it looks to boost the amount of capital it holds on its balance sheet, according to reports.

The Financial Services Authority's report into the collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland will not examine in any detail the role played by Sir Fred Goodwin and Sir Tom McKillop, its two most senior directors.

The government yesterday said the credit crunch which plagued markets in 2008 has returned.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by almost 500 points overnight as US indices jumped following news of co-ordinated central bank action to ease liquidity concerns.

Standard & Poor's has downgraded a raft of US and UK banks including HSBC, Barclays, and Goldman Sachs following an overhaul of its ratings criteria.

As George Osborne reveals the Office for Budget Responsibility has revised down growth forecasts in the UK and government borrowing is moved higher, fund managers and economists give their view on 2011's Autumn Statement.

The IMA will create a Global Equity Income sector with effect from 1 January 2012 and is looking at a European Equity Income sector.