The International Monetary Fund has called on the UK government to take more action to boost the economy, which it warns is "still a long way from a strong and sustainable recovery".

The following is the text of Canada's retail sales report for March as released by Statistics Canada. Retail sales were flat in March, holding at $39.5 billion.

Energy giant SSE today warned of higher bills ahead as it posted a 27.5pc rise in profits to �410m for energy supply business. The company, which raised electricity and gas prices by an average 9pc in October, said: "Unless there is a sustained reduction in ...

The government needs a "clear strategy" to privatise Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday, as the two bailed-out banks attempted to reassure the City that they would not need to tap investors ...

Britain's biggest building society posted a 3.4pc rise in pre-tax profits to �210m for the year to April 2013, from �203m last year.

Lost tax revenue from money salted away offshore is costing governments more than $150bn (�99bn) a year, Oxfam has found - enough to eliminate extreme poverty across the globe twice over.

LONDON--The U.K. government has again issued a caution against Scottish independence, warning Wednesday that separation would bring uncertainties for renewable-energy investment.

The government is providing a �32m loan to kick-start the building of a new town near Plymouth. Housing Minister Mark Prisk told BBC Radio Devon plans for Sherford had been "stuck in the system" for a number of years.

Full consent has been given for a 40MW farm off the north-west coast of Lewis - enough to power nearly 30,000 homes. Wave energy firm Aquamarine Power said it would begin installing its Oyster devices in the next few years, once grid infrastructure is put in ...

Homeserve's shares jumped more than 10 per cent as the company revealed a smaller than anticipated �6m provision for legal costs and fines it is expected to incur for mis-selling home repairs insurance.