The Canadian federal government together with two of the largest provinces are working towards a common securities regulator.

Real estate firm Foxtons debuted strong in the London bourse, with early trading placing the firm's value at GBP 788 million or USD 1.27 billion.

The Royal Bank of Scotland raised GBP 630 million by selling all the shares it holds in insurer Direct Line.

Belgian financial group Dexia said it would enter into exclusive talks with New York Life Investment as it planned to sell the company's asset management unit.

Emmanuel Fievet, Barclays Plc's head for UK and Europe had left the bank following Stefanie Drews' departure from the banks' group of wealthy clients and family offices in London.

In a ruling by Judge Norgle, Groupon was ordered to face the class action suit filed against it for securities fraud.

JP Morgan Chase & Co. reached a milestone in cleaning up its legal affairs however it had also left the company a hefty USD1 billion settlement payments.

Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg advised banks of a future of stricter administrative rules over their operations.

Kloevern AB gained the most after the firm was upgraded in status by Swedbank AB. The shares of Kloevern AB had jumped its highest in nearly five months in Stockholm trading.

James Gorman, the CEO of Morgan Stanley, said that he personally invest in municipal bonds, a biotech firm and for his children's accounts,in global equities.