... 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.

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.

Canadian retail sales stalled in March after gains in the prior two months, as increases in auto and clothing receipts were offset by lower gasoline prices.

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

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.