Moody's says it could cut its ratings of 19 UK banks to reflect the lower chance of a future government bail-out.

The Japanese economy is "under strong downward pressure" in the wake of the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) says.

The FSCS will prioritise the fund management sector ahead of IFAs when it rebates the interim levy with any recoveries linked to Keydata.

Norwich & Peterborough (N&P) has had its financial strength rating downgraded by Moody's, a week after the building society revealed it faces a £57m Keydata compensation bill.

BP shares closed down 2.2% in London yesterday on a report its managers could face manslaughter charges following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which could lead to much higher fines over the disaster.

Standard Life Investments (SLI), one of BP's top 10 investors, has withdrawn its backing for the oil giant's deal with Russian energy group Rosneft after warning share swaps alone "rarely do anything positive".

Estates will benefit from a 10% discount in inheritance tax (IHT) if they leave part of the money to charity, George Osborne said today in the Budget speech.

The Chancellor will use Wednesday's Budget to announce the biggest clampdown on tax avoidance since 2004, raising twice as much as the £500m a year predicted when the initiative was launched last December.

The "wrong kind of inflation" will mean the government has to borrow significantly more over the medium term than planned, George Osborne will be forced to admit in the Budget.

The IMA has distanced itself from earlier proposals to launch a judicial review into the funding of the FSCS, as it looks at "other options" to tackle the levy on behalf of its members.