Markets await word from Bernanke

US stocks have moved higher, helped by news of a pickup in home building and low inflation.

Hogg appointed as Bank's new COO

The Bank of England has continued its shake-up by appointing a senior female banker to the new role of chief operating officer.

Cold weather warms Costa sales

Coffee chain Costa has warmed shares in parent company Whitbread after figures revealed another sales boost during Britain's colder-than-normal spring.

Lloyds denies Co-op deal pressure

Lloyds Banking Group bosses have denied they faced political pressure to accept the Co-operative Bank's ill-fated £700 million bid for its branches, insisting they acted in the best interests of shareholders.

Trader charged over 'fraud plot'

A City trader has been charged with offences of conspiracy to defraud in connection with the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into the manipulation of the Libor interbank lending rate.

Crest hails strong market recovery

Crest Nicholson hailed "strong" progress in its return to the stock market after Britain's property market bounce helped it to a 76% surge in profits.

Inflation rise bigger than expected

The squeeze on consumers intensified last month as soaring air fares and more expensive clothing and footwear lifted inflation higher than expected.

RBS boss 'decided to go' - Osborne

George Osborne insisted Stephen Hester made the decision to quit as head of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) following claims that he effectively forced him out.

US policy hopes boost FTSE shares

Fresh hopes that United States policymakers will reassure over the country's vast money-printing programme fuelled another day of gains for the London market.

EasyJet plans Airbus fleet upgrade

Budget airline easyJet is to upgrade and expand its aircraft fleet under a deal to buy 135 Airbus planes over the next nine years.

£330m research base for drug firm

Drug group AstraZeneca said plans for a new research base in Cambridge will boost the chances of Britain discovering the next generation of medicines.

Doubts raised over value of HS2

Demand for the HS2 high-speed rail project has "likely been overestimated" and the £33 billion project does not offer good value for money, according to a report by a think-tank.

Bigger Heathrow 'better and faster'

Expanding Heathrow would be cheaper, quicker and better for the economy than creating a new hub airport, according to a report from Heathrow bosses.

Netflix seals Dreamworks TV deal

Netflix is to air original television programming from Dreamworks Animation in a deal described as a major coup for both companies.

PM vows 'tax justice' after G8 deal

David Cameron has promised to deliver "proper tax justice" as leaders of the G8 nations agreed a pact to crack down on tax havens and stop multinational companies shifting profits around the world to avoid paying their fair share.

US stocks rise on Fed Reserve hopes

Investors, involved in a game of wait-and-see with the US Federal Reserve, guessed that the Fed will continue trying to prop up the economy, and sent stocks higher.