Economics / Markets

The index of 100 leading shares was down more than 1% just after 9am after flat trading on Wall Street and in Asia, with investors awaiting British inflation numbers.

The FTSE 100 dropped 0.49% or 28.19 points to 5,768.68 in early morning trading, as fears of lower demand from China dragged down mining stocks.

It's Friday..., so sit back, relax, and catch up with some of the more positive news this week.

Wealth levels per person in the UK hit their lowest level for five years in 2008 as a result of the financial crisis, although they have since rebounded.

The recovery in both France and Germany, Europe's largest economies, slowed considerably in the third quarter.

London's FTSE opened 1.7% down this morning on a poor day for global stocks, following heavy losses in Asia and fresh fears for the Irish economy.

Officials in Ireland and the EU yesterday moved closer to conceding the heavily indebted nation may require a bailout.

The FTSE is slightly down in early trading, with RBS hit by fears it may be exposed to Ireland's economic problems.

The G20 summit Leaders converging on South Korea for the upcoming G20 summit are set to clash over a deal to safeguard the global economic recovery.

Prime Minster David Cameron has warned China it must correct its trade imbalance amid concern the country is deliberately devaluing its currency to boost exports.