Mounting speculation that a leading credit agency is to imminently downgrade the ratings of a number of eurozone countries drove global markets sharply lower today and sent the euro spinning down to a 17-month low.

Stocks recovered from early big losses today as Italy’s borrowing costs eased on mounting speculation that the Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi would soon resign.

European stock markets advanced strongly today amid mounting expectations that a Greek referendum on a European bailout plan will be abandoned.

European markets saw more volatility today as traders digested a multitrillion-pound emergency plan being drawn up to rescue the euro.

A suspected rogue trader was being questioned today after Swiss banking giant UBS discovered €1.48bn worth of unauthorised deals.

A 31-year-old man was arrested in London today in connection with allegations of €1.48bn of rogue trading at Swiss banking giant UBS.

Hopes that the US would embark on a fresh round of fiscal stimulus to boost its ailing economy were dashed tonight, sparking fresh fears about renewed stock market turmoil.

The turmoil battering world markets showed signs of easing today amid hopes of a fresh round of stimulus measures to boost the flagging US economy.

Shares tumbled again today as many global markets entered official bear market territory after one of the worst days on Wall Street since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

A record slump for London's FTSE 100 Index was confirmed tonight after a further bloodbath in panic-stricken financial markets.

PANIC on global stock markets has derailed the recovery of London’s blue chip index since its crash in 2008.

World markets took another pummelling today as the debt storm whipping the US and eurozone sliced a further £30bn from London’s top stocks.

News Corporation shares rallied today amid reports it may bring forward plans to split Rupert Murdoch’s chairman and chief executive role in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.

John Lennon’s schoolbook is expected to fetch £100,000 (€143,000) when it goes under the hammer later this month.

A school exercise book in which John Lennon jotted down ideas that ended up in The Beatles' song I Am The Walrus is to be auctioned in London next month.

DIANA Princess of Wales’s spare wedding dress, made in case of any mishaps on the big day, is up for sale.

Diana, Princess of Wales’s spare wedding dress, made in case of any mishaps on the big day, is up for sale.