German political problems fail to scare European stock markets

Market report: Roche shares jump almost 6% on positive news from experimental drug tests

UK motor insurer shares fall after ‘crazy’ move to up payouts

Cut in discount rate will force insurers to pay more cash to personal injury claimants

Brokers tip Ryanair to continue to fly high

Analysts note ‘exceptional’ performance from airline but likely profit taking sends stock price down

London Briefing: Barclays set to turn clock back in top post

Fiona Walsh: Bank looks set to hire another US investment banker, James “Jes” Staley, as chief executive

Miner Petra sells rare blue diamond for $27.6 million

Blue diamonds are considered so rare that there are no official statistics exist about their recovery

Astra Zenec eyes round of sales and spin-offs

Chief executive Pascal Soriot keen to press turnround efforts

Prudential plans to generate £10bn cash in four years

Speculation rises that UK’s largest insurer may increase its dividend

RSA shares tumble after fresh profit warning

About £500m wiped off RSA’s market capitalisation in London

AstraZeneca names Dunoyer as CFO as drug sales and profits drop

UK government hoping Royal Mail flotation will send the right message

The state postal company looks like an attractive prospect to investors

New G4S boss starts turnaround with $541m share sale

Chief executive Ashley Almanza was promoted from finance chief in June

Call for clarity on UK housebuilding amid fears of new bubble

State supported schemes have helped to boost property developers’ profit forecasts