miners

The FTSE 100 has soared to its highest level since early 2000, as mining and housing stocks boost the blue-chip index at the start of the week.

The FTSE 100 index has endured its worst week since June as investors became increasingly nervous ahead of the planned referendum in Crimea due on Sunday.

A mixed year for equity markets nonetheless ended on a high, with the FTSE 100 up over 12% year to date and the FTSE All Share 15% ahead, but which stocks thrived and which dived in 2013?

Supermarkets are weighing on the FTSE 100 index today as worries escalate over price wars between the UK's leading food stores.

The FTSE 100 index was in the red just after midday, dragged down by mining stocks which sold-off as oil and metals prices weakened.

Shares in asset managers Schroders and Henderson have fallen in morning trading while Aviva climbed following a set of half-year results from the groups.

The Dow has leapt to a fresh all-time high shortly after the opening bell, as Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke last night ruled out the prospect of an imminent end to QE.

The FTSE 100 has slumped 3%, gold has dropped 5% and gilt yields have spiked to their highest level in over a year as the prospect of an end to US QE rattles markets.

Shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland sold-off heavily on Friday morning following its latest results, with Investec Bank's respected analyst Ian Gordon downgrading the bank to sell after labeling revenues at its investment banking arm "awful".

Carl Stick, manager of the £504m Rathbone Income fund, has bought back into the mining sector for the first time in a number of years, initiating a small position in Rio Tinto.