Economics / Markets

The FTSE 100 has experienced its best ever quarter, posting the biggest three-month gains in its 25-year history.

The UK's largest stocks struggled to make headway in the last session of the quarter despite a positive performance for financials and insurers.

Wall Street got off to a shaky start today as traders digest positive news on the housing market and a negative read on the Conference Board's consumer confidence index.

The UK economy contracted by less than expected between April and June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The FTSE 100 has opened lower this morning despite three-figure gains on Wall Street overnight.

The Dow Jones has kick-started the week with solid gains in early trading on Monday.

The FTSE 100 plunged sharply in morning trading, as banks and mining stocks dragged the index down.

The Dow Jones shrugged off surprisingly weak US manufacturing data today to sneak ahead after a choppy start.

In London, share prices moved upwards as markets opened this morning, though the index is volatile following signs of economic weakness in the US.

Bank of England governor, Mervyn King, says RBS and HBOS were within hours of a liquidity shortfall on 6 October 2008, and the day after, as the country's financial system came to the brink of collapse.