Economics

The City watchdog says it might be prepared to publish previously-secret findings of its investigation into events leading up to the rescue of RBS.

The Shanghai Composite surged 2.9%, its biggest advance since mid-October, as China held interest rates steady despite rising inflation.

The chances of the euro breaking apart or disintegrating completely have been put at "one-in-five" by one of the UK's leading economics consultancies.

The International Monetary Fund has called on the EU authorities to boost their rescue fund and step up bond purchases to insure against a fresh financial crisis in the eurozone periphery.

The European Central Bank has rebuffed calls for mass purchases of southern European bonds, despite growing pressure from Spain and Italy for dramatic action to buttress monetary union.

England has missed out on hosting the 2018 World Cup, after FIFA awarded the prestigious prize to Russia.

British banks borrowed more than $1trn (£640bn) from the Federal Reserve during the financial crisis, led by Barclays following its swoop on the US business of Lehman Brothers.

Chancellor George Osborne said "Britain is on the mend" and its recovery "on track" as he set out a new blueprint for growth following the OBR's growth projections.

Pressure is growing on the government-appointed Independent Commission on Banking to ease off on banking reform, with leading accountants and banking organisations calling on the government to "think again" and avoid "systemic reduction" in bank profitability....

More than one in six finance chiefs at British companies believe the UK economy will remain steady over the coming year, according to a survey by the recruitment firm Robert Half.