World stock markets fell sharply today after the US Federal Reserve said it could start scaling back its huge economic stimulus programme later this year and a survey showed a slowdown in manufacturing in China.

The UK's banks have been told to find an additional �13.4bn of capital this year on top of the balance sheet-strengthening measures they had already been planning.

UK retail sales recorded a larger-than-expected rise last month, helped by a strong increase in food sales. Sales rose 2.1% in May from the month before, and were up 1.9% from a year earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Sebastian James, Dixons' chief executive, said the chain had experienced a "tablet explosion" last Christmas and, given that less than a third of British households have a tablet, there is "lots of road left in this particular product".

PARIS - Shares in Eurotunnel which operates the under-sea tunnel between France and England fell by 4.47 percent on Thursday after the European Commission pressed for a cut in prices charged to run trains on the route.

The Scottish first minister has backed a break-up of RBS to split its risky investment bank from its mainstream retail and business lending arm.

The government has a duty to explain the benefits of genetically modified crops to the British people, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is to say.

A home finance arranger has been fined nearly �1m, a record sum, for misleading homeowners when selling and renting back their properties.

Which? is demanding lenders take action on mortgage fees after damning research shows 99.5 per cent of borrowers do not understand the true cost of mortgage deals.

Ian Livingston has been lured from helm of BT to become David Cameron's Trade minister, banging the drum for UK exports and inward investment.