The sell off in the markets was short lived as the major stock indices recorded heavyweight gains yesterday. The change in sentiment was triggered by news from the Ukraine President Vladimir Putin ordered troops back to base after the completion of military exercises.

The Russian stock market dropped around 10% on the news with the FTSE currently 60 points lower at 6,744. Gold futures are higher by $18 to 1,344 dollars per ounce and Brent crude was up $1.7 to just shy of $111 dollars per barrel.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway released its annual letter to shareholders over the weekend and confirmed it had made $19.5 billion (£11.6 billion) in 2013, up from $14.8 billion (£8.8 billion) in 2012.