Economics

European markets ended Tuesday lower as concerns over Cyprus and uncertainty over the European debt crisis weighed on investor confidence.

George Osborne has asked Whitehall departments to make a further £2.5bn of cuts, as he prepares to present a gloomy Budget 2013 later today.

UK CPI inflation rose from 2.7% to 2.8% in February as rising energy prices pushed the reading to its highest level since May of last year.

Société Générale strategist Albert Edwards has urged investors to stick with their core government bond holdings in the face of a threat to US profit margins which could hit equity markets.

Cypriot officials are attempting to renegotiate the terms of its €10bn bailout to limit the pain for small account holders, according to reports.

Asian markets tumbled overnight and safe-haven bond yields fell following news EU member Cyprus is to impose an unprecedented bank levy on deposits held in the country.

More than 20 fund management groups are to set to make a formal offer to buy 315 Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) branches, the Sunday Times reports.

Chancellor George Osborne is to bring forward the introduction of the flat-rate state pension and the cap on social care by a year.

Miton Group - Gervais Williams' fund management company - has announced plans to launch a range of UK equity funds after a positive year for the group which saw assets climb towards £2bn.

ECONOMY