FTSE

Shares in Manchester United have fallen at the start of US trading after it was announced manager Sir Alex Ferguson is to bring an end to his 26-year reign at the club at the end of this season.

The FTSE 100 continued to recover today as banks lifted the index higher on signs that some of the instability in Europe is coming to an end.

The UK's blue chip index is trading back near a five-year high this morning after a near 1% gain, as a bumper set of results lift shares.

The FTSE 100 has moved back above 6,300 as investors shrug off a dismal Thursday to end the week on a more positive note.

The FTSE 100 tumbled nearly 2% in morning trading after the US Federal Reserve spooked markets yesterday by warning it may slow its asset purchase programme.

The UK's blue chip index has climbed to a five-year high above 6,400, surpassing the peak of 6,376 seen before the financial crisis.

Hargreaves Lansdown has risen 5.8% to top the FTSE 100 leaderboard as the blue-chip index recovers from yesterday's decline.

The UK's leading share index pulled back from multi-year highs Monday following a surge last week, as investors took profits from winning shares.

London's leading share index is on course to record its best January performance since 1998, despite fears the UK economy could fall into a triple-dip recession later this year.

The FTSE 100 looks set to break the 6,200 level, the first time since May 2008, continuing the rally that has propelled markets since the beginning of the year.