Italy Election Update: Easing Italy Election Fears Lift Equities, UK Stock Indices Shrug Off Downgrade

Italy election update, Easing Italy election fears lift equities, Japanese Yen slides and Nikkei surges on reports that Haruhiko Kuroda, seen as a backer of aggressive easing, is frontrunner to head Bank of Japan

Somehow fate sealed on pound's loss of haven status, Tight fiscal policy and sluggish growth will continue to encourage loose monetary policy, writes Mansoor Mohi-uddin

Pound Sterling hits 2-year low after downgrade, Pound slides to fresh two-year low against the dollar after UK loses its prized triple A rating and fresh data show bets against the pound increasing

From Moscow economic news, Russia dominates dim sum bonds, Russian banks have raised $482m through four debt issues since the start of the year, exceeding the $477m raised by Chinese companies

Stocks news from British, UK stock indices shrug off downgrade, House builders top the more UK centric FTSE 250 after upbeat profit growth, while the FTSE 100's rise is led by global resource stocks

Meanwhile, Highlights from the USDA annual conference, Despite bearish undertone for grain supply at the industry forum, some speakers have warned anything could happen while grain stocks are low