Economics / Markets

The UK's employment rate fell 0.3% between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, according to labour market figures released today by the Office for National Statistics.

The FTSE edged higher while sterling fell from a 10-month high on the first day of the UK's new Coalition Government.

Prudential chief executive Tidjane Thiam is pressing ahead with the faltering AIA deal, vowing to persuade shareholders to back the $35.5bn (£23.7bn) takeover of AIG's Asian business.

Thirteen years of New Labour came to a dramatic end yesterday as David Cameron was declared Prime Minister and head of Britain's first coalition government for 70 years. Here's what the papers say about the new man at number 10.

Both former shadow chancellors George Osborne and Vince Cable have been given positions in the new Coalition cabinet.

Capital Gains Tax(CGT) is set to rise on so called 'non-business' assets under the new Coalition Government to help reduce income tax for low earners.

Labour have pulled out of talks with the Liberal Democrats in their effort to forge a "progressive coalition" as the stalemate following the UK hung parliament looks set to end with a Tory/Lib Dem coalition.

US shares have retreated after their buoyant showing yesterday amid fears the eurozone aid package may not bring the economic stability hoped for.

Updated 1.45pm: The FTSE 100 dropped 2% in midday trading as uncertainty over the composition of the British government continues.

The Dow Jones advanced more than 4% in early trading Monday while the FTSE maintained impressive gains as the markets took confidence from a €750bn weekend rescue deal to defend the euro.