investment

The FTSE 100 index has ended the day up 45.7 points or 0.75% higher to close at 6,089.8, as the index never really looked throughout the day as though it would retreat from its strong start on Wednesday morning.

Advisers believe the three most important financial planning activities, of saving for retirement, buying a house and saving for the future should all start before a person reaches the age of 26, according to research from Prudential.

Property funds are being regularly recommended to clients by the majority of advisers across the UK, according to a survey by Fidelity International.

Adults are spending more than half of any money received as windfalls such as inheritances and bonuses, with just 8% going towards mortgage or debt repayments, claims Birmingham Midshires.

Interest in commercial property investment has soared in recent years and is expected increase further according to the latest annual commercial property forecast published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The FTSE 100 has closed up 39.4 points to end at 6,044.10, with miners again providing much of the lift with Antofagasta and Rio Tinto, both in the top 10 risers.

Grant Thornton Corporate Finance is predicting a slower year of activity on the Alternative Investment Market, following another record-breaking year last year.

Evidence suggests there is more interest in stockmarket-invested Isas this year, as sales are currently up by more than half on this time last year while SWIP research suggests 15% of the population will take out an investment Isa before April 5.

Fidelity International has reported record levels of online ISA sales through its investment supermarket Fidelity FundsNetwork.

UK Real Estate Investment Trusts will have to pay an "entry charge" worth 2% of the market value of their investment properties before they are allowed to proceed under the Reit regime set to take effect 1 January 2007, announced by HMRC today.