Economics / Markets

The FTSE opened more than 30 points up Thursday as investors were buoyed by Spanish plans to tackle its budget crisis, a host of strong trading updates and a rally on Wall St.

The main UK index recovered from a mixed morning as investors assessed the new coalition Government, closing up 46.24 points or 0.92% to 5,383.45.

Take a look at the mix of Tory and Lib Dem MPs who will be running Britain for the next five years.

Inflation is set to fall below its 2% target - even if interest rates remain at their record low, the Bank of England says in its Quarterly Inflation Report.

US authorities are understood to be investigating whether Morgan Stanley misled investors over mortgage derivatives.

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.