Economics / Markets

Loose central bank policies could threaten global financial stability when interest rates rise as lenders become "addicted" to central bank financing, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.

Global markets soared on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve inadvertently released minutes from its latest policy meeting five hours earlier than planned.

Fitch has cut China's local currency rating from AA- to A+, amid concerns the country is not doing enough to address its soaring debt levels.

The UK will narrowly escape a triple-dip recession with economic growth for Q1 forecast to be 0.1%, acccording to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research(NIESR).

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Portugal's constitutional court has ruled against the country's planned austerity programme, putting its £78bn bailout package in jeopardy and creating a fresh crisis for the eurozone.

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has warned of the continuing negative outlook for the UK economy, but reaffirmed its triple A rating for the country.

Business secretary Vince Cale is pushing forward on plans to ban three former HBOS directors from acting as company directors.

Prudential paid its chief executive officer Tidjane Thiam £7.8m last year despite him being reprimanded by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) over a bid for AIA Group.

The Bank of England has opted not to implement further quantitative easing and held interest rates at 0.5% for the 49th consecutive month.