markets

How to stand out in an overcrowded market

The FTSE opened at 5,727 this morning, sliding 0.08% in early trading, although there was a raft of M&A activity among the UK's largest companies.

The FTSE continued to feed off global optimism in early trading on Thursday, extending yesterday's 1.5% gain.

The FTSE finished at its highest closing level in more than five months today as investors were buoyed by the prospect of further fiscal stimulus in the US.

The FTSE climbed 1.1% this morning to 5724.37 after rumours of more quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve gained momentum last night.

The FTSE has powered higher this morning feeding off a healthy end to trading on Wall Street last week.

The FTSE slid into negative territory in afternoon trading following news of a record month-on-month drop in house prices.

Miners relinquished some of yesterday's gains in early trading on Thursday, pulling the FTSE more than 20 points lower to 5,659.

European markets have fallen sharply this morning with the FTSE 100 down 1.1% or 61.8 points at 5,511.63.

Business Secretary Vince Cable will today launch a wide-ranging attack on the "murky world of corporate behaviour".