Economics / Markets

ANDREW Sutherland, head of credit, fixed interest at Standard Life Investments (SLI), has suggested that improvements in banking transparency and money market liquidity are required before credit markets can progress.

EMERGING markets are set to account for more than a third of the world's market capitalisation by 2017, fund houses have agreed.

The FTSE closed at 6595.8p this afternoon after rising 47.9 points, or 0.73%.

A sweet start on the FTSE has seen the index rise 28.8 points, or 0.44%, to 6576.7.

THE world economy is showing signs of breaking away from the US, evidenced by a significant shift in the balance of growth across the major global markets, according to Keith Wade, chief economist at Schroders.

In London, markets closed ahead and the FTSE 100 was up 12.7 points, or 0.19%, to 6,547.9.

Northern Rock again leads the FTSE although a volatile opening has led to little change, the index climbing 3.7 points, or 0.06%, to 6538.9.

DOMESTIC economic development is the key for future growth in Asian markets, according to Curtis Butler, manager of Legg Mason Asia Pacific fund.

THE Bank of England has today frozen interest rates at 5.75% as expected.

A sluggish start on Wall Street didn't hamper the FTSE too much this afternoon, as financials drove the index to a solid gain of 34.8 points, or 0.54%, to 6535.2.