ONLY 3% of executive directors at the UK’s top 350 companies are women, a study into boardroom equality revealed yesterday.

Financial Times publisher Pearson today said a “strong” first half had boosted confidence in its hopes for the full financial year.

A 10% rise in profits for the UK’s biggest bank today failed to stave off a downbeat beginning to the week for the FTSE 100 Index.

The FTSE 100 Index endured a difficult start to the week today as losses for banks sent the London market more than 1% lower.

Financial Times publisher Pearson today said advertising revenues had remained “resilient” despite recent stock market turmoil.

Investors in mining stocks who braved the sharp fall in silver and other commodity prices yesterday were rewarded today as the FTSE 100 Index hit another five-year high.

The Financial Times put a stop on its losses today as higher advertising revenues sent it into the black for the first time since 2002.

Media giant, Pearson, has reported a 3% rise in full year profit after a round of cost cutting measures.

Publishing group Pearson today delivered an improvement in underlying profits despite the advertising downturn faced by its Financial Times business.