Stocks edge higher on hopes for global economy

Global Markets Overview: FTSE All-World index remains becalmed near six-week highs, with stock investors reluctant to push riskier assets higher without a fresh catalyst

Debunking the myth of a China collapse

Global sentiment towards China’s economy and asset markets has turned from exuberance just a few months ago to overriding concern about the side-effects of last year’s remarkable credit growth, writes Jing Ulrich

Wall Street rises on bank deal speculation

Ten years to the day after the Nasdaq reached its all-time peak, US stocks posted decent gains at the opening bell – but lacked a positive driver to send them higher

London mid-cap market enlivened by bid hopes

Tullett Prebon raced to the top of the mid-cap FTSE 250 index on Wednesday, while Barrett was also boosted on the back of bid speculation

Industrial and chemical stocks gain in flat trade

A strong performance by industrial and chemical stocks failed to lift European shares higher on Wednesday

Indian harvest hopes sink sugar prices

Sugar prices tumbled on Wednesday, extending the slide to a second session following reports suggesting a better-than-expected outlook for India’s production this season

Nikkei flat as machine stocks gain

The Tokyo exchange remains flat, with better-than-expected machinery orders helping to offset a drop for embattled carmaker Toyota after an incident involving a Prius in the US

Queensland picks banks for A$7bn rail IPO

The Queensland state government has appointed five banks to run a A$7bn share float of Queensland Rail’s coal and freight arm, expected to be Australia’s biggest listing this year

CFTC urges end to derivatives secrecy

A leading US financial regulator called for the prices of derivatives trades to be disclosed in the same way as stock prices, saying only large Wall Street banks benefited from the current lack of transparency

Disappointing data weigh on sterling

Sterling lost ground on Tuesday as disappointing economic data and renewed concern over the UK’s banking sector and fiscal health weighed on the pound

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