Economics / Markets

Investec Asset Management, which runs over $4bn in active currency funds, believes sterling is the cheapest of all major global currencies.

The German Government plans to outlaw the naked short-selling of all stocks listed on its exchanges, enlarging last week's contentious ban on shorting key financial stocks.

The FTSE continued to slide in Tuesday trade as ongoing concerns over the eurozone and political tensions in Korea weighed heavily on investors.

US markets opened lower today amid investor concerns over the eurozone and political turmoil in Korea.

First quarter GDP growth has been revised up in line with expectations on the back of strong industrial production figures.

Speculators increased bets against sterling to record levels even after the formation of the new coalition government, as worries escalated over the health of UK finances.

Britain is at risk of sliding into a Japan-style period of deflation, according to a Bank of England policymaker.

AIA's chief executive has told friends and industry executives he would quit if the UK's Prudential succeeded in its $35.5bn (£24.6bn) takeover of the group's Asian arm.

Updated 1.40pm: The FTSE recovered slightly after plunging at midday on news of the coalition government's £6.2bn spending cuts.

State investment in British business will be cut by £636m this year, as Chancellor George Osborne seeks to drive a "private sector recovery".