investment

ABBEY HAS launched an ambitious plan to more than double its share of the investment and pensions market within the next 18 months.

The integration of Millfield into the businesses of its new owner will be at least a six month project says the head of The Money Portal.

Now the Finance Act 2006 has received Royal Assent, advisers should embrace the new legislation which has created "significant business opportunities".

Consumer confidence in buy-to-let property has increased over the last few months at the expense of more traditional investment products.

The FTSE 100 has ended the day up 8 points, or 0.14%, to 5,896.9 as Wall Street opened well allowing the index to reverse losses which had lasted most of the day.

The FTSE 100 has ended the day flat, down just 1.1 points, or 0.02% to 5,888.9 despite performing well during the afternoon.

Consumer confidence in the current economic situation has fallen to its lowest ever level, claims Nationwide.

Millfield has appointed PriceWaterhouseCoopers as administrators of a number of its subsidiaries.

Outsourcing of asset management functions is leading to increasing concerns over risk management, consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers says.

The FTSE 100 is up 32.5 points, or 0.56%, to 5,824, losing earlier gains towards the end of the day as Wall Street also fell back.