Influx of investors seeking safe haven may send franc to record high and hit nation's high rollers

There is a "postcode lottery" over foreign exchange, according to consumer group Which?.

Thilo Sarrazin, the former Bundesbank member who caused outrage with his racist theories about Muslim immigration, has stoked fresh controversy with a new book claiming that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s European policy is motivated by German guilt for the Holocaust and World War II.

The central drama is in Europe, but a special responsibility falls on Mr Obama’s shoulders

PM will urge German Chancellor to use her country's wealth to shore up single currency

It's the inescapable question: would Greece now be better off outside the eurozone than inside? There are powerful and plausible arguments both ways. Those who answer in the negative point out that Athens is still, despite years of massive cuts, spending more than it takes in tax revenues.

Greece's search for a government to prevent the country's disorderly exit from the euro went on into last night with little sign of an agreement. After a week in which party leaders have failed to form a coalition, it fell to the Greek President to make a final appeal to politicians to prevent a further period of uncertainty and fresh elections next month.

What's happening with the exchange rate?

According to the historical satire 1066 And All That, the English Civil War was fought between "Right but Repulsive" Roundheads and "Wrong but Wromantic" Cavaliers. A modern satire on the European financial crisis could well use the same terminology, with Germany as the right but repulsive advocates of roundhead "austerity", and those calling for still more cavalier "borrowing for growth" as wrong but wromantic.

Currency could be next sub-prime mortgage crisis say traders after day of turmoil on markets

You can benefit from the strong rate for sterling against the euro by buying your travel money now or getting a pre-paid card, reports Emma Lunn

There were fresh calls for the Government to scale back its austerity measures today after figures confirmed the UK had returned to recession.

Soaring sterling rates are giving Britons as much as 14% more cash for their summer 2012 trips to Europe compared with last year.

The pound this week climbed to a 19-month high against the euro. By Thursday, you could get 1.22 euros for £1, a level not reached since August 2010.