US

Moody's said last night if there is no progress in the US on increasing the country's statutory debt limit, it expects to place the government's rating under review for possible downgrade in the next few weeks.

Institutional investors in the US are increasingly using ETFs for both tactical and strategic purposes, according to the second annual Greenwich Associates study in association with iShares.

Financial advisers, fund managers and investors could be hit with huge costs after the US Senate passed laws forcing millions of people in funds holding US assets to make a declaration to the American tax authorities.

9am: The FTSE 100 is hovering around the 5,900 mark in early trading on the back of weakening metal prices sending mining stocks deep into the red.

European markets opened lower on news of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest on rape charges, amid fears his absence from eurozone talks will delay bailout plans for Portugal and Greece.

A third round of quantitative easing in the US would lead to the collapse of the dollar, M&G's Jim Leaviss has warned.

The FSA has signed an agreement to share confidential information with US state regulators, in a deal the Americans say may be at the forefront of a trend towards collaborative regulation.

Three European asset management firms have accused banks including Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co., HSBC Holdings Plc, Barclays Bank Plc and Credit Suisse Group AG of conspiring to manipulate Libor.

Warren Buffett, Bill Gross and UK fund stars including Jim Leaviss have seen their warnings on US treasuries proved right as S&P downgraded its outlook for US credit.

The US equity market has experienced an about-turn and is offering investors a wealth of opportunities, writes Mark Piper, co-fund manager of the Collins Stewart Select Opportunity fund.