London's blue-chip index suffered a poor start to the week after sharp stock falls in Asia today, with property groups and miners among the early decliners.

The FTSE 100 has moved ahead in early trading this morning, boosted by news Friends Provident has agreed a merger with Clive Cowdery's Resolution consolidation vehicle.

Skandia's platform sales have bolstered Old Mutual's interim results in the UK with total net inflows of £0.4bn.

The FTSE 100 reached its highest level since October 2008 this afternoon, leaping more than 80 points to within touching distance of 4,700.

Way Fund Managers (WFM) chief executive, David Pook, is to retire from the firm at the end of September with a number of changes also announced to the group's third party division, Elite.

Miners are leading the FTSE 100 higher this morning, as Barclays announced a near £3bn pre-tax profit for the first half of 2009.

Iveagh, the Guinness family office and private investment house, is to move its Iveagh Wealth fund to daily dealing with effect from 1 August 2009.

Liontrust has recruited Ross Hollyman's three-strong team from GAM to assist in establishing the boutique's global equities arm.

The FTSE 100 has opened on a positive note this morning after strong performance in the US yesterday.

Financials dominate the top spots on the Dow Jones this morning at the start of a week when a number of high profile earnings reports are due.