FTSE

European markets recorded sharp falls in early trading on Thursday after Japan's Nikkei 225 index shed more than 1,100 points on concerns the US Federal Reserve may scale back its quantitative easing programme.

Concerns raised by ratings agencies, analysts and hedge funds have pushed bank shares lower this morning as the FTSE 100 snaps seven straight days of gains.

Shares in Manchester United have fallen at the start of US trading after it was announced manager Sir Alex Ferguson is to bring an end to his 26-year reign at the club at the end of this season.

The FTSE 100 continued to recover today as banks lifted the index higher on signs that some of the instability in Europe is coming to an end.

The UK's blue chip index is trading back near a five-year high this morning after a near 1% gain, as a bumper set of results lift shares.

The FTSE 100 has moved back above 6,300 as investors shrug off a dismal Thursday to end the week on a more positive note.

The FTSE 100 tumbled nearly 2% in morning trading after the US Federal Reserve spooked markets yesterday by warning it may slow its asset purchase programme.

The UK's blue chip index has climbed to a five-year high above 6,400, surpassing the peak of 6,376 seen before the financial crisis.

Hargreaves Lansdown has risen 5.8% to top the FTSE 100 leaderboard as the blue-chip index recovers from yesterday's decline.

The UK's leading share index pulled back from multi-year highs Monday following a surge last week, as investors took profits from winning shares.