Economics / Markets

F&C has reacted to what has been described as a "dismal" trading statement by announcing ambitious plans to launch a number of higher fee products, including more hedge funds.

IT has been another eventful week at Morley as the fund house announced two new fund manager appointments and revealed it is to open a new office in Germany.

SIGNS of economic weakness and lower inflation levels will prompt the US Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates, according to Bob Doll, BlackRock chief investment officer for equities.

MARKET watchers should not overstate the case for history repeating itself this year, according to John Kelly, head of client investment at Abbey.

AN increasing appetite for cautious investments has been prompted by concern about the outlook for the global economy and equity markets, according to Cazenove's Robert Thorpe.

The FTSE 100 index gained 23.2 points, or 0.4%, to 6,370 points today, led by a buoyant mining sector and a strong start on Wall Street.

Miner BHP Billiton led the FTSE up 9 points to 6,355 in morning trading, as the Anglo-Australian giant announced massive profit rises and a $10bn share buyback programme.

The FTSE 100 index finished at a new six-year high today, gaining 28.4 points, or 0.5%, to 6,346 points, as investors chased potential bid targets higher.

Analyst upgrades to Lloyds TSB have helped the FTSE gain some 26 points to 6,343 this morning.

Analysts upgrade for a handful of stocks on the FTSE 100 dominated trading on an otherwise uneventful day, to lift the FTSE 100 index by seven points or 0.1% to almost 6,318.