Economics / Markets

A cooling global economy and an impending austerity squeeze in Britain will make the Bank of England (BoE) wait well into next year before hiking interest rates, a poll of 60 economists suggests.

The FTSE 100 opened 0.5% higher in early trading on Wednesday after firm economic data from China spurred sentiment.

Leading fund managers have staked their reputations, and their clients' money, on a sustained UK economic recovery by upping their holdings of shares and reducing their positions in bonds in the past month.

US stocks slumped to their worst August in nine years, as investors retreated on fears for the US economy.

More than a tenth of the 7,380 banks in the US remain at risk of failure despite the sector posting strong profit growth during the second quarter.

The FTSE 100 moved slightly lower in afternoon trading as double-dip fears persisted on the back of negative housing market data.

The FTSE opened lower in morning trade on Tuesday as investor confidence was hit by stock sell-offs in the US and Asia.

India's economy grew at its fastest rate for more than two years in Q2, official data reveals.

The Federal Reserve is prepared to take "unconventional measures" to prop up the US economic recovery, said Ben Bernanke in a speech today.

Markets reacted positively to the news the US had not slowed to the 1.4% expected in the second quarter.