FTSE 100

Barclays Wealth has reissued its Target Growth plan with a new option giving investors an additional safety barrier for their capital.

The FTSE started the day positively buoyed by a strong start for bank stocks and increased hopes of a global recovery.

Barclays Wealth has reissued its Defined Returns plan Annual Kick-Out (AKO) with improved rates.

The FTSE 100 opened at 5,132 today and climbed 0.23% higher in early trading, bolstered by beleaguered oil major BP.

The FTSE 100 lost 40 points in early trade Thursday as BP shares continued to drop.

The FTSE has bounced back from a mid-morning dip to end more than a percentage point higher, thanks to strong performances from miners.

The FTSE 100 index rose by 0.7% to 5063.7 points in early trading led by Royal Bank of Scotland, which edged closer to significant asset sales.

UK stocks and sterling tumbled this morning after Fitch labelled Britain's fiscal challenge "formidable".

Global markets are in freefall today following Wall Street's slide on Friday and on fears over a Greek-style crisis in Hungary.

The FTSE opened higher in early trading by 20.32 points(0.39%) to 5231.50 as investors become more optimistic about prospects for a global recovery.