FTSE

The FTSE opened 1% lower on Friday following heavy falls in the US and across Asia overnight, with investors spooked by Spanish bond yields moving perilously close to the critical 7% level yesterday.

Schroders' Richard Buxton has warned investors the chances of the FTSE 100 breaking through the 6,000 level in the next three to five years is remote.

European markets rallied late on Friday as Italy approved new austerity measures, a move which is set to precede the resignation of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The FTSE 100 dropped sharply in morning trading as investors fretted over the future of Italy following a spike in the country's bond yields to record levels.

FTSE has partnered with the Nairobi Securities Exchange to develop indices for Kenya, which could precipitate the introduction of ETFs to the market.

Markets moved lower on Monday as fears over Greece and Italy remained despite the imminent formation of a Greek coalition government.

The City of London is "under constant attack" from European Union regulations, David Cameron has said. Read more on this and the other top headlines in our round-up of the nationals.

OBSR investment research analyst Richard Whitehall examines the top performing funds in the UK All Companies sector over the short and long term

Over-the-counter provides news and views of who is doing what in the ETF market.

The FTSE 100 made up some of the ground lost in recent days, gaining over 100 points in early trading, amid talk in Europe of plans to recapitalise the banking system.