Economics / Markets

Greece will this month launch a multibillion-dollar bond in the US, selling itself for the first time as an emerging market country as demand for its debt dwindles in Europe.

Former chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan believes there is "momentum building up" in the US economy and the chance of a double dip has fallen significantly.

Ken Clarke, Vince Cable and Alistair Darling have come out as more popular choices to fill the role of Chancellor than George Osborne, among City economists.

The FTSE was up in early morning trading at 5,717.92, rising 38.28 points (0.67%).

The FTSE rose by 0.3%, or 14 points, to 5686.32 this morning, buoyed by fighting talk from British Sky Broadcasting.

The financial crisis has cost the British economy up to £7.4trn in lost output, according to the Bank of England.

Part-nationalised banks led declines on the FTSE in late Tuesday trading amid concerns about what the Government plans to do with its stakes in them after the General Election.

Britain's emergence from an 18-month recession was stronger than first thought, according to revised ONS data.

Even Alistair Darling would have trouble spinning these numbers: Fewer than two million viewers tuned in to watch him debate with Chancellor-in-waiting George Osborne and the Lib Dem's Vince Cable last night. Nine million opted for EastEnders.

Britain had its AAA credit rating affirmed by Standard & Poor's yesterday, but the ratings agency retained its negative outlook over continued deficit concerns.