Economics / Markets

European equity markets have given up all yesterday's gains as investors remain on the back foot ahead of today's EU summit.

April UK retail sales have come in well below forecast as Bank of England minutes have revealed many MPC members are considering voting for further quantitative easing.

The World Bank has cut its economic growth forecast for China this year from 8.5% to 8.2%, which would be its weakest level in more than a decade.

Business secretary Vince Cable is a "socialist" who should have never been given responsibility for business policy, Adrian Beecroft has claimed.

Chancellor George Osborne has said the UK government is making contingency plans for a Greek exit from the euro as the crisis in the region reaches a "critical" point.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), headed by Christine Lagarde, has urged the UK to consider introducing more quantitative easing and cut interest rates.

Inflation in the UK dropped in April, beatings the consensus forecast.

The Court of the Bank of England has commissioned three reviews into the Bank of England's (BoE's) provision of liquidity to the banking system during the financial crisis and its forecasting abilities.

Barclays has put its $6.1bn stake in US fund manager BlackRock up for sale in a surprise move.

FIVE THINGS