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There were fears yesterday that the Bank of England could raise interest rates after the European Central Bank issued a surprise warning that surging inflation could force it to lift eurozone rates as early as next month.
City stunned by European Central Bank's warning on eurozone rates
Oil prices rose back above $128 a barrel Thursday after the dollar fell in response to comments by European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet suggesting the bank could raise interest rates.
Oil surges more than $5
Mr King, the Governor, is adamant that the job must go to a leading economist and insiders say that he is pressing hard for Charles Bean. Responding to questions about the appointment in the Commons yesterday, the Chancellor made no mention of economic skills and instead would reply only that the Bank's priority had to be maintaining financial stability.
Alistair Darling likely to reject Mervyn King's choice for deputy
The Bush administration's $168bn (86bn) economic stimulus package has encouraged Americans to indulge in a modest shopping spree, according to figures from leading retailers that show a slight rally in high street takings.
Tax refunds for 130m households help warm up US economy
The housing market is deteriorating at a much faster rate than it did during the recession of the early 1990s, Bellway said, as expectancy grew in the City that some UK housebuilders could be forced to raise capital to shore up their balance sheets.
UK housing market falling faster than last recession, says Bellway
Bradford & Bingley directors last night sought to bolster support for the ailing mortgage lender when they revealed the board purchased more than half a million shares at a cost of more than 350,000.
Directors back B&B with 350,000 buying spree
The world's top economic powers have launched a last-ditch effort in Paris to save a deal on global trade as the public mood turns increasingly protectionist in both rich and poor societies.
Crisis trade talks in Paris as protectionism looms
The price war among the exchanges in Europe intensified yesterday as the transatlantic powerhouse NYSE Euronext slashed its fees to help repel competition from three rival markets preparing to launch this year.
NYSE Euronext challenges rivals with 30% cut in trading fees
Viren Rastogi, the businessman behind a global metals trading fraud that duped 20 banks - including West LB, JP Morgan Chase and Dresdner Bank - out of $750m (383m), has been jailed for nine and a half years.
From Piccadilly to Indian cowshed: conmen jailed for $750m fraud that fooled top banks