George Osborne

The overwhelming majority of UK fund managers are hoping for a Conservative victory in today's General Election, believing a David Cameron-led Government would be best for the stock market.

Two Bank of England directors have been earmarked to take control of transferring banking supervision from the Financial Services Authority to the central bank if the Tories win the election.

The first televised election debate kicks off on Channel 4 tonight, with a predictable focus on the state of the economy.

Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable have kicked off the election campaign with a live televised debate on the economy which saw them trading blows on issues including the national debt, financial services regulation and long term care.

The Government is understood to be considering plans to offload its stakes in Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland just weeks after the general election.