FTSE 100

Investment products such as ETFs are likely to become increasingly bespoke and complex in the coming year, according to Barclays Stockbrokers.

The FTSE has advanced to within touching distance of its 12-month high reached last month as M&A activity boosts the index in its last full trading week before Christmas.

The FTSE advanced 40 points in early trading on Tuesday as investors were buoyed by news of US tax cuts, but European debt fears were keeping a lid on sentiment ahead of the Irish budget.

US markets closed 1% ahead yesterday on a buoyant day for global shares as fears around the European sovereign debt crisis eased.

Octopus Investments' Andrew Buchanan asks why invest in emerging markets abroad, when there is one right here in the UK?

Losses in Asia, a lack of direction from Wall Street, where traders sat out Thursday's session for Thanksgiving, and falling resources stocks have made for a poor start for the FTSE 100.

The FTSE 100 has fallen 1.2% this afternoon as eurozone debt fears and reports of hostilities between North and South Korea continued to dent investor sentiment.

The FTSE 100 advanced 0.67% or 38.68 points to 5,771.51 as investors responded positively to news Ireland has agreed to a bailout.

The FTSE 100 was down almost 2% this afternoon as fears over Europe's sovereign debt woes and tighter monetary policy in China continued to weigh on investors.

The FTSE 100 dropped 0.49% or 28.19 points to 5,768.68 in early morning trading, as fears of lower demand from China dragged down mining stocks.