Inflation rose to a higher-than-expected 3.4% in March, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Interest rates have been kept on hold at 0.5% by the Bank of England.

The FSA has fined Credit Suisse £2.5m - reduced to £1.75m due to early settlement - for failing to submit accurate transaction reports.

The first televised election debate kicks off on Channel 4 tonight, with a predictable focus on the state of the economy.

The Government is understood to be considering plans to offload its stakes in Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland just weeks after the general election.

The FSA has made a major upward revision of the RDR's costs in its policy statement today.

Inflation fell back to 3% in February after a sharp spike at the beginning of the year.

Lloyds Banking Group could be about to sell its entire stake in St James's Place.

A former employee of Lloyds Banking Group has accused the bank of artificially inflating its profits by almost £1bn through the use of aggressive tax-avoidance schemes and exotic "Lehman- style" offshore deals which he said amounted to false accounting....

Prudential has applied to have its shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as part of its plan to buy AIG's Asian assets.