Europe

European equities lost ground in afternoon trading ahead of a crucial EU summit, as Spain officially asked its eurozone neighbours for a bailout.

Billionaire investor George Soros has called on Europe to start a fund to buy Italian and Spanish bonds, or risk the demise of the euro.

European Wealth is looking to establish offices in Geneva and other European locations. At the same time it has appointed Nigel Davies to spearhead it's recently launched liquidity management service.

Lyxor Asset Management (Lyxor) has teamed up with Koris International for a two year partnership offering alternative investment solutions for distribution across continental Europe.

MULTI-ASSET

Three gang members have been jailed for a total of 35 years for carrying out a £38m VAT fraud through a complex chain of carbon credit trades.

The introduction of Solvency II could see annuity rates, currently at record lows, drop a further 20%, Deloitte has warned.

WHAT'S HOT

Europe's major markets climbed on the first day of trading after Spain was granted a €100bn bailout for its banking sector.

EURO 2012