Calling for an immediate stimulus to �offset� the austerity scheduled for 2013, David Lipton, the IMF's deputy managing director, said: �We suggest the Government bring forward planned capital spending and consider measures such as reducing the effective ...

Ben Bernanke said the US Federal Reserve could start slowing the pace of its asset purchases �in the next few meetings�, but only if the labour market showed sustained improvement.

The timing of Easter and the freezing weather seen at the start of the month caused retail sales to fall by 2.2 per cent on an annual basis.

Nationwide has increased its share of the British mortgage market to a record level, helped by government-funded programmes to support housebuyers, such as the Bank of England's Funding for Lending Scheme.

George Osborne is preparing to set out his plans to return bailed-out Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland to the private sector after the International Monetary Fund called on him to devise a "clear strategy" for the two banks.

Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman, said "I don't think companies should decide what tax policies should be. Governments should.

SSE Plc (SSE) plans to reduce its share of spending on renewable energy through March 2015 in favor of increased investment in its networks business, where rates for power and gas distribution and transmission are regulated.

Cable & Wireless Communications Plc. (CWC.L) Wednesday reported a pre-tax profit compared to a loss last year, amid lower items.

Britvic is to cut up to 400 jobs - 15 per cent of its workforce - as part of efforts to bolster its fortunes as a standalone company should competition authorities squash its proposed tie-up with Scottish peer AG Barr.

The soaring price of property in London's West End has boosted results from real estate groups Great Portland Estates and Shaftesbury, which both own prime buildings across the UK capital.