US President Barack Obama's hopes of a winning a second term this year gained a major boost yesterday as upbeat jobs figures revealed the biggest fall in unemployment for nearly three years.

The manufacturing sector suffered its worst quarter for nearly three years despite an “encouraging” performance in December, figures showed today.

HSBC is in talks to sell its US credit card arm, with Capital One Financial seen as the leading buyer for the $30bn (£18.5bn)-plus business.

Chancellor George Osborne has remained on track to meet his annual borrowing target, despite figures today showing a bigger than expected rise last month.

The rumour mill turned its attention back towards Man Group last night, as reheated speculation that the world's biggest listed hedge fund manager could be a target helped it to surge up the blue-chip index's leaderboard.

People planning to remortgage or fund a house purchase may find that the deals on offer get cheaper over the coming weeks and months, mortgage industry insiders have said.

The Government modestly undershot its expectations for public borrowing in the last financial year by nearly £5 billion, official figures revealed today.

during the first six weeks of 2011 there was a growing belief that the Bank of England Base Rate would increase sooner than initially anticipated, something that was reflected in the increased swap rates. This resulted in many lenders re-pricing fixed rate mortgages and left borrowers feeling that they had missed the bottom of the market.

The UK's recovery prospects were dealt a blow today after Chancellor George Osborne revealed a cut to growth forecasts and said the public finances were likely to be more stretched than previously expected.

A Saudi Arabian family, estimated to be worth $3bn, has bought the Piaget store on Old Bond Street in yet another record deal on London's exclusive shopping street.

Q. ING Direct closed my account at my request, but transferred the funds – almost £90,000 – to the wrong account. It admits this, and that it was their error, but says it cannot reimburse me until it locates the missing funds. It has even suggested that I should track down the funds myself – and that this would be quicker. GF, London.

It just so happens that Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have been asked to fire the starting gun to get the 30th edition of the Bupa Great North Run underway in Newcastle tomorrow morning.

Storm clouds gathered on Britain's high street today after a shock fall in retail sales and a slew of pessimistic comments from major players.