... the US Federal Reserve will soon slow down its $85bn-a-month, third round of quantitative easing. �In the current economic environment, monetary policy is providing significant benefits,� Mr Bernanke told the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.

Furious consumer groups demanded an immediate cut in energy bills today after one of Britain's biggest suppliers revealed a 28 per cent profit surge boosted by the past year's cold weather.

The Canadian dollar declined to a two-month low against its U.S. peer after retail sales stagnated in March, boosting bets the Bank of Canada will move away from its bias to raise interest rates.

George Osborne yesterday revealed that the Government will set out its strategy �to return RBS and Lloyds to the private sector� after the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards' final report is published next month.

Nationwide has revealed plans to raise up to �500m of extra capital, prompting speculation that it may go shopping for acquisitions.