Economics / Markets

THE Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has suggested the credit crunch and stock market turbulence may have increased opportunities for VCTs.

Prudential and mining stocks led the FTSE100 higher at the end of the week, up 26.90 to 5719.30.

A late slide on Wall Street overnight has punished the FTSE 100 in early trading, currently 124.30 points lower (2.15%) to 5652.10.

EXPECTATIONS for UK economic growth were cut in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget speech this afternoon, as the impact of global slowdown was recognised by the Government.

Standard Life has climbed to the top of the FTSE in early trading on Wednesday after announcing profitable 2007 results earlier today.

In London, markets received a boost in the afternoon after the Bank of England announced it would make funds available to help combat the liquidity squeeze, and the FTSE 100 closed up 61.3 points (1.09%) to 5,690.4.

In London, shares moved ahead in early trading despite losses in the mining sector, and the FTSE 100 was up 46 points (0.82%) to 5,675.1.

The FTSE fell 68 points, or 1.19%, to 5631.9 this afternoon as BHP Billiton plummeted following metal prices dropped.

The FTSE fell 40.8 points, or 0.72%, to 5659.1 this morning as Persimmon led losses.

The FTSE closed the week down sharply by 66.50 at 5699.90 as a result of renewed worries about the US economy.