The FTSE 100 saw a sharp rise yesterday after the Bank of England cut interest rates to 0.25% and extended its quantitative easing programme. The index closed up 1.6% at 6,740.

The latest political upset in Italy has given investors a fright. But they are taking too pessimistic a view.

Global banking giant HSBC has unveiled an extremely cautious strategic update. Shareholders wanted a bit more spice, says Alice Gråhns.

Premier Oil has seen its share price rise in step with its output and profits, while Petra Diamonds’ profit warning has seen the shares slide.

Emerging-markets investors have turned their guns on Brazil, sending the real to a two-year low and wiping 15% off the stockmarket in three weeks.

Argentina has agreed s $50bn credit deal with the IMF, which should stabilise the currency and encourage foreign investment.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates again yesterday. But market reaction was muted. The age of the all-powerful central banker may be coming to an end, says John Stepek.

Good governance and shareholder democracy are being undermined by companies issuing shares with limited voting rights. But investors are starting to push back, says Merryn Somerset Webb.

TV and film streaming giant Netflix has shaken up the media business. But it won’t end there, says Matthew Lynn.

As investors fall out of love with gold, John Stepek looks at what’s happened in the last week to the charts that matter most to the global economy.

Matthew Partridge talks to economist and author Dr Nick Sargent about how politics affects the markets, and the need for objectivity when investing.