I don't want a friend - just a bank that knows its place.

Stocks in Europe and on Wall St surged overnight to start the final month of the year with an optimistic view that central banks and policy makers were committed to shoring up economic growth.

A leading financial adviser accused of a road rage hit-and-run incident can be named for the first time.

Concern about Europe's fiscal crisis was at the forefront of investors' minds again as they sold equities, the euro and European government debt.

The Labour Party has signalled a willingness to allow private capital into state-owned enterprises - at the subsidiary level.