Economics / Markets

An increase in jobless claims in America exacerbated negative investor sentiment on Thursday, sending global stocks lower.

Ireland's GDP contracted 1.2% in the second quarter and confounded analysts' expectations of 0.5% growth, according to an initial estimate released today.

George Osborne has been accused of undermining the Treasury's new economic watchdog by appointing one of his own officials to run operations.

Fidelity has dismissed fears of a double-dip and has urged investors to look beyond scare-mongering headlines and place economic figures in context.

Dr Andrew Sentance remains the lone member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee to argue for an increase in interest rates.

The US central bank has decided not to take further action to rejuvenate the country's economy but hinted it may do more later if needed.

FSA chairman Lord Turner has warned regulators will have the power to cap mortgages using credit control powers last enforced in the 1980s.

UK public borrowing rose to a record high in August, at £15.9bn, dwarfing the £12.51bn economists had predicted.

The FTSE moved slightly higher in early trading, up 0.45% or 25.45 points to 5,628 amid oil exploration success and M&A activity in the energy sector.

The Republic of Ireland saw its €1.5bn (£1.3bn) bond issue snapped up at auction today, pointing to investor confidence in the strength of the economy.