Neil Hume is to leave the Guardian in May to lead coverage of the London stock market for the Financial Times (FT).

The latest appointment follows a series of staff changes announced by the Financial Times this week as it aims to strengthen its UK companies and markets team.

Sarah Spikes is joining the FT in April from international business and finance giant Dow Jones, and will take up the role of companies reporter covering financial services and the City of London.

Chris Hughes joins the FT from breakingviews, becoming senior companies reporter, covering the UK.

Dan Roberts will move from his role as US business rditor for the FT to replace Martin Dickson as the editor of Lombard Column. Mr Dickson is now deputy editor of the FT.

"These are important appointments for us which will considerably strengthen our coverage of corporate Britain and the City of London - our core business," said Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times.

These major changes follow the appointment of Paul Murphy from the Guardian, now new development editor of FT.com, as part of a drive to expand coverage on the business website.

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