Output in Britain's manufacturing sector reached its highest level for more than two years as the industry continued to bounce back from a post-Brexit vote slump.

The Bank of England is almost certain to cut benchmark borrowing costs when it sets policy next week, but a slim majority of economists in a Reuters poll said it would hold off for now on restarting its asset purchase programme.

The London market was dragged into the red after a gloomy economic update from Britain’s construction industry dealt a punishing blow to housebuilders.

British manufacturing activity barely grew last month, adding to signs that the UK economy is slowing in the run-up to the country’s referendum on EU membership, fresh data showed yesterday.

Growth in construction of new homes in Britain ebbed to its lowest level in three years in March, according to a survey yesterday that showed the overall expansion in the building trade held at its weakest in nearly a year.

Ireland’s position as the eurozone’s fastest-growing economy was underlined yesterday by data showing the country’s manufacturing sector outshone most of its counterparts last month to reach an eight-month high.

British mortgage approvals surged by the most in six years in April and lending to individuals also rose sharply, underlining the clout of the country’s consumers, but also its reliance on them to drive the economy.

Hopes that Britain’s economic recovery will become less reliant on big-spending consumers ebbed further yesterday as data showed manufacturing growth weakened at the end of last year while lending to individuals soared.

Eurozone manufacturing activity expanded slightly slower than first thought last month as further discounts at the factory gate failed to drive up new orders, a survey showed.

Manufacturers were “walking rather than running” in August as new figures today showed the sector endured its worst performance in 14 months.

Britain's dominant services sector grew at its fastest pace for 16 years in the third quarter of the year, fuelling hopes that the overall economy will have performed better than already-buoyant expectations.

Interest rates will be kept on hold today as more signs of economic cheer cast doubt over Bank of England governor Mark Carney’s forward guidance strategy.

Pressure is mounting on Bank of England governor Mark Carney ahead of tomorrow’s interest rates meeting as gathering signs of economic cheer cast doubt over his forward guidance strategy.

Rocketing British business led the way in Europe’s slowly improving economy in July, according to surveys that suggested the eurozone’s lengthy recession may be nearing an end.

Britain’s housebuilding bounce-back helped cement the biggest rise in construction output for more than a year last month in the latest sign of a “new dawn” for the sector.

House building activity in Britain fell at its fastest rate for two years last month as construction firms battled persistent rain, figures revealed today.

Fears for the health of the British economy were fuelled today as a survey revealed growth in the services sector slowed to a near two-year low last month.

The downturn in UK manufacturing showed signs of easing today after new figures revealed a rebound from July’s “disastrous” performance.

The Bank of England is widely expected to pump billions of pounds into the UK economy this week despite signs that the UK’s financial health may be starting to improve.

Banking stocks led strong gains on the London market today as optimism surrounding the global economic outlook strengthened.

Construction activity in the UK grew last month, according to a closely-watched survey, but experts warned the wider economy was still likely to have stagnated at the end of last year.

A bleak warning from Bank of England governor Mervyn King, eurozone uncertainty and worse-than-expected US unemployment data ended the rally on the London market today.

A better-than-expected US employment report distracted traders from eurozone woes and boosted markets on both side of the Atlantic.

World markets continued to suffer big losses today after the Greek Prime Minister announced a shock referendum on a vital aid package and fuelled fresh fears for the future of the eurozone.

The London market dipped into the red today as investors continued to weigh up how Osama bin Laden’s death would impact financial markets.

Aggreko led the FTSE 100 Index further above the 6000 level today after it was lifted by a deal to supply power to the firm that ran the crippled Fukushima power plant.

London: British manufacturing growth slowed more than expected in March, but companies still ramped up prices at a record rate to cover rising costs, a survey showed on Friday.

The recovery in the British construction industry strengthened in February as activity surged to an eight-month high, boosting hopes that the UK's economy will return to growth.

The London market surrendered earlier gains as oil prices surged after fears that Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, could be rocked by a political uprising.

Bank of England policymakers have been urged to hold their nerve on interest rates this week, despite continued inflationary pressures in the UK economy.

The Bank of England is today expected to resist pressure to hike interest rates despite fears over surging inflation and commodity prices.

Hopes of a private sector-led recovery were boosted today after official figures revealed growth in Britain’s manufacturing sector rose to its highest level for seven months in October.

Growth in the UK services sector slowed today as businesses warned of a worrying lack of consumer demand before the key Christmas trading period.

Bank of England policymakers are expected to keep interest rates on hold for the 18th month in a row this week amid gathering gloom over the economy.

A sharp slowdown in housebuilding in the UK sapped construction growth during August, an industry survey showed today.

Worries over the fragile recovery among UK manufacturers intensified today after growth slowed to a nine-month low in August.

The services sector grew at its slowest pace for nearly a year in June as austerity measures dealt a blow to confidence, it was revealed today.

British manufacturing output grew at its fastest pace in almost 16 years during April amid signs of recovering exports, an industry survey showed today.

Britain’s embattled construction industry grew for the first time since February 2008 last month as the sector ended two years of “relentless contraction”, according to a report today.

British manufacturers took another step on the road to recovery last month after figures today showed the fastest rate of expansion since October 1994.

A decline in UK factory activity during September today fuelled fears that the British manufacturing sector's recovery is running out of steam.

Bank of England policymakers are expected to pause for breath when they meet this week after the shock decision last month to pump an extra £50bn into the British economy.

The FTSE 100 Index entered the second half of the year with a more than 2% rise today as positive world manufacturing data helped boost hopes of economic recovery.