Troubled British insurer RSA has detailed plans for a £773m share issue designed to boost its finances in the wake of costly weather-related claims and accounting irregularities in its Irish business.

Technology giant Apple has reached a deal to bring the iPhone to China Mobile, the world’s biggest phone carrier.

HEINEKEN sent a shiver through Europe’s brewing industry yesterday with a warning that weak consumer sentiment and a damp summer would wipe out profit growth this year.

MEDTRONIC Inc (MDT), the world’s biggest maker of heart-rhythm devices, said first-quarter profit fell 1.1% as demand for its defibrillators and spinal products declined and costs to produce them rose.

Despite the economic compromise, the US could still lose its coveted AAA debt rating some time in the next six months, largely because the agreement does not cut enough spending.

Hopes for further economy-boosting measures from the US Federal Reserve mounted today, sending the London market higher.

The FTSE 100 Index made headway by noon today despite broker downgrades for blue-chip heavyweights BP, Prudential, Marks & Spencer and BT.

The London market closed at its highest level since June 2008 today as Prime Minister Gordon Brown finally fired the starting gun on the general election race.

The FTSE 100 Index strode towards the 5800 mark today on renewed US recovery hopes, but eyes were focussed firmly on the political battle ahead after the Prime Minister confirmed the general election date.