FTSE

The FTSE rose slightly in early trading to 4823.61, up 17.86 points (0.37%), after a late rally on Wall Street.

The FTSE 100 has slipped further into the red in late afternoon trading as disappointing US manufacturing and housing data added to growing concerns of stuttering global growth.

The FTSE began to recover early losses on Thursday after the European Central Bank (ECB) revealed modest take-up of its latest short-term loan facility.

Updated 15.00 UK time: The FTSE 100 is down 3.05%, or 154 points, to 4917 as concerns about the Chinese economy weigh heavily on investor minds.

Investors need to weigh up the pros and cons and risks versus rewards when choosing investments in the constant pursuit of happiness.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.74%, or 38.31 points, at 5201.99 in early trading, with mining stocks the biggest winners.

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis may not only prove a wake-up call for BP but for UK pension funds too.

The FTSE closed slightly down this afternoon after a turbulent day which saw Prudential finally back down from its bid for AIA.

The FTSE 100 has opened 1.3% lower this morning as global indices continue to decline.

Commodities continue to boom in popularity as an asset class underlying exchange-traded products. Yet fluid definitions of product structures are causing confusion, as Helen Fowler discovers