Economics / Markets

The FTSE has broken through 6,000 this morning, following a strong performance from the US with the Dow Jones soaring to a two year high.

UPDATE: The UK index of 100 leading stocks had jumped 58.87 points to 5921.81 by 2pm, an increase of 1% led by rising commodity prices as civil unrest in Egypt continues.

A leading economic think-tank today urged George Osborne to delay the dramatic public sector cuts which underpin his economic policies, and to u-turn on them completely if the economy falters again.

Eurozone inflation rose to a higher-than-expected 2.4% in January.

Moody's has cut Egypt's debt rating one notch, citing the ongoing political fallout.

The FTSE 100 has started the week in negative territory as the crisis in Egypt continues to unsettle investors.

Three quarters of a million more people are set to become higher-rate taxpayers in April, according to a leading economic research body.

Four of the UK's biggest banks are set to unveil profits of more than £24bn in what will be taken as the clearest sign to date the banking sector is back on track after the global financial crisis.

UK dividends shrank by £2bn last year as BP scrapped its payout in the wake of the devastating Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

US GDP grew to an annualised rate of 3.2% in Q4 2010, driven by consumer spending.