Bank of America

The FTSE opened buoyantly, up more than 49 points to 5,158.28, on the back of strong performance from mining companies, due to higher metal prices because of the weak dollar.

Britain's emergence from recession in 2010 will be stronger than previously thought, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Regulators around the world will be handed new powers to limit the share of profits that banks can spend on bonuses under a compromise deal to be tabled in Pittsburgh this week at the G20 meeting of leaders of the largest economies.

Barclays is considering enhancing its pension fund following a furious reaction from staff about the decision to close the final-salary scheme to plug a £3.5bn gap.

In the US, blue-chip stocks trailed as investor sentiment turned cautious after a two-week rally.

The Dow Jones slipped in early trading on Thursday after posting some of the biggest gains of the year just 24 hours earlier.

Barclays has this morning confirmed it is in discussions with Lehman Brothers to buy certain assets from the bankrupt bank.

A LONG-HELD LAW which placed banks above other claimants in insolvency cases has been overturned by the House of Lords but this could make getting a small business loan tougher, says the Daily Telegraph .