Economics / Markets

Heavy selling of the euro saw it tumble through the $1.30 mark versus the US dollar late this morning to its lowest level since early January.

UK unemployment rose by 128,000 in the three months to October to 2.64 million, the highest level since 1994.

Markets around the world closed down overnight as further signs European leaders will fail to agree a new treaty emerged.

Bank of England chief economist Spencer Dale has predicted inflation will fall to around 3% early next year and is confident the latest round of quantitative easing will prop up the economy.

UK CPI inflation fell from 5% to 4.8% in November, the Office for National Statistics has said, in line with economists' forecasts.

The German central bank told me in no uncertain terms last week it was not printing Deutsche Marks, despite growing speculation - and a number of sources - pointing to the contrary.

Shares tumbled across Europe yesterday and in the US overnight after ratings agency Moody's disclosed fresh concerns over the European sovereign debt crisis and reiterated it would review the ratings of all 27 EU nations in the first quarter of next year....

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Lloyds Banking Group's chief executive António Horta-Osório is having to reapply for his own job as doctors prepare to give him the go-ahead to return to work from sick leave.

Prime minister David Cameron has caused the EU to fracture after refusing to sign up to a new treaty over concerns about financial services regulation.