FTSE 100

Merchant Capital has launched its Growth plan: Principal Lock-In, offering the opportunity of an uncapped growth payment based on the increase in FTSE 100.

Barclays Wealth has launched a new product which offers exposure to growth in the FTSE 100 without putting capital at risk.

The FTSE 100 plunged 1.71% or 89.76 points to 5171.23 this morning as shares were hit by the prospect of a hung parliament in the UK and worries over the Greek debt crisis.

The FTSE 100 dived 1.52% or 80.94 points to 5,260.99 with banks dragging on the index after Moody's warned UK lenders are at risk of Greek contagion.

What is the similarity between Multi-Asset Investing, Global Diversification...and a Gucci handbag?

The FTSE was flat in early trading this morning at 5345.24 points as Europe's markets regained some composure after going into temporary freefall over the past two days.

The FTSE was off 0.83% at 5365.96 points this morning despite the largest miners regaining some of the ground they lost yesterday.

The FTSE 100 plunged 1.95% this afternoon as miners continued to weigh on the index following Australian plans to levy a 40% tax. The index fell 108.4 points to 5,444.89.

David Stevenson shares his thoughts on recent innovations in the index-tracking ETF space and asks are investors looking before they leap?

Miners fell sharply this morning on news the Australian government plans to introduce a new 40% tax on resource projects from July 2012.