The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point but left its rate outlook for the coming years unchanged even as policymakers projected a short-term acceleration in US economic growth.

Sterling went on a roller-coaster yesterday falling back sharply as high hopes for a Brexit deal were dashed, while US and European shares surged following the US Senate weekend vote to approve president Donald Trump’s tax-cutting bill.

After the maelstrom of UK prime minister Theresa May’s election crisis and a struggle in government over the shape of Brexit, business chiefs have a request for the UK: Give clarity on how the EU divorce might look.

Britain’s major share index climbed, flirting with its record high level but underperforming European peers,

London’s top flight index tumbled below 6,700 yesterday as investors baulked at a bleak economic update from the UK manufacturing industry.

Britain’s top share index climbed to its highest level in nearly a year yesterday, led higher by miners, and with ITV soaring after a well-received trading update.

London’s top-flight index fell just short of breaking through the 6,700 mark for the first time in 11 months after shares in ARM Holdings soared following its takeover approach from Japan’s SoftBank.

Britain may have voted 52% in favour of leaving the EU, but Brexit won’t become a reality unless voted for by members of parliament, according to lawyer Geoffrey Robertson.

More than £50 billion (€61.5bn) has been wiped off the value of the UK’s biggest companies after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

British housebuilder Taylor Wimpey promised investors larger payouts till 2018 than previously expected on Tuesday, underpinned by strong demand for property in the UK. 

The London market ended the week in positive territory after growing hopes that last-ditch reform proposals by Greece will lead to a bailout deal with its creditors.

British prime minister David Cameron has pledged to double the number of homes built for first-time buyers by the end of the next parliamentary term in a bid to tackle Britain’s housing shortage.

The London market ended the week in the red after a downbeat note on housebuilding and as oil prices began falling again.

The FTSE 100 Index enjoyed more festive cheer in the last full trading day before Christmas today though the pound took a knock after it emerged UK growth was not as strong as first thought.

British housebuilders and mortgage lenders called for more clarity on how the government will wind down a support scheme for struggling housebuyers which has boosted developers’ profit forecasts amid fears of a new property bubble.

British housebuilders received a Budget boost today after Chancellor George Osborne delivered a raft of measures to help Britons get on the housing ladder.

Uncertainty over whether US political rivals will agree a crucial spending and taxation deal drove a volatile run on the London market today.

The London market finished the week on a high today as most EU countries agreed to explore plans for a closer union to get to grips with the region’s debt crisis.

British housebuilder Taylor Wimpey today said housing market conditions have remained robust despite the continued drought in mortgage lending.

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey today said it returned to profit over the first six months of this year, despite selling fewer houses in the period.

London: British house-builders see signs that the housing market is proving more resilient than many feared, due partly to pent-up demand from people who need to move house despite mortgages still being tough to obtain.

British housebuilder Taylor Wimpey today reported a fall in house sales but said there were signs that the mortgage drought may be easing.

The FTSE 100 Index pushed closer to a six-week high after retail stocks surged following a better-than-expected update from bellwether Marks & Spencer.

Aggreko led the FTSE 100 Index further above the 6000 level today after it was lifted by a deal to supply power to the firm that ran the crippled Fukushima power plant.

An improved outlook on the crisis in Libya and a raft of positive blue-chip updates saw the FTSE 100 Index break back through the 6000 barrier today.

The London market pushed ahead today as traders expected more positive employment figures from the US and seized on reports of a mooted peace deal for Libya.

Mining stocks held the FTSE 100 Index above the 6000 barrier today as copper prices hit a record high.

The FTSE 100 Index finished slightly down today as speculation over a Chinese interest rate rise dented shares in miners.

BP slid 2% today as investor fears over the cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill resurfaced in the wake of legal action by the US government.

The London market headed for highs not seen since mid-November today after a strong morning session was bolstered by President Barack Obama's plans to extend tax breaks in the US.

Supermarket Tesco rung up share gains today as the wider FTSE 100 Index also powered ahead thanks to commodity stock advances.

A two-day rally on the London market came to an end today as traders waited for key economic data from the US.

The London market moved cautiously today as fears over the European debt crisis remained.

The FTSE 100 Index plunged by nearly 2% today as Irish bailout fears and Korean military tensions rattled investors’ confidence.

The London market bounced back from earlier losses today triggered by concerns surrounding the sovereign debt crisis in Ireland.

The London market struggled to find direction today as sentiment was weighed down by ongoing fears of a bail out for Ireland’s troubled economy.

The FTSE 100 Index recouped earlier heavy losses today after another grim set of jobless figures in the United States fuelled hopes that policymakers will take further action to prop up the global economic recovery.

British housebuilder Taylor Wimpey flagged up fears over planning delays and spending cuts today as the group wrestles with “ongoing political and economic uncertainty”.

World markets were dragged lower today after cautious comments from the US Federal Reserve curbed enthusiasm for riskier stocks.

The FTSE 100 Index maintained its positive start to the week today, despite a fresh blow to BP after ratings agency Fitch slashed its debt to near-junk status amid fears over the impact of the Gulf of Mexico spill.

The FTSE 100 Index crept into positive territory today during another choppy session dominated by worries over the scale of Europe’s debt crisis.

There was little sign of an end to stock market turbulence today as eurozone concerns continued to weigh on blue-chip shares.