Economics / Markets

Mining stocks led the FTSE 100 up 25.69 points (0.45%) to 5,736.35 in early trading after the weaker dollar boosted gold prices.

Greece plans to raise €5bn from a new seven-year bond in its first attempt to raise funds since the EU-backed safety net agreement for the country.

Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable have kicked off the election campaign with a live televised debate on the economy which saw them trading blows on issues including the national debt, financial services regulation and long term care.

Telecoms groups and miners including Rio Tinto helped the FTSE 100 off to a good start, up 16.37 (0.29%) to 5,719.39.

The FTSE was at 5708.41 in early trading, down 19.24 points or 0.34%, as investors reacted with caution to a eurozone bail-out plan for Greece.

A £20bn bailout plan to help debt-laden Greece has been agreed by all 16 eurozone countries.

In the wake of this year's Budget, with the UK just out of recession and facing a possible hung parliament, advisers face an uncertain domestic economic outlook.

Alistair Darling used Labour's last Budget before the election to carry out a £19bn tax raid on the middle classes to help pay Britain's record debt.

AIFA has welcomed moves to make AIM shares eligible as a tax-advantaged ISA investment, but says the Chancellor held back on support for small businesses.

As the deadline approaches for subscriptions into Anthony Bolton's much-anticipated Fidelity China Special Situations investment trust, IFAonline and Investment Week bring you more than 20 of the legendary stock picker's favourite investment quotes.