Hopes that the UK can maintain its AAA credit are fading, economists said today.

British businesses gave qualified backing to the Prime Minister's pledge for an in/out referendum, but raised fears the vote will create greater uncertainty for under-pressure UK companies.

The Government is to invest €35m as seed capital in a new energy efficiency fund (EEF) it hopes will help finance start-up projects in the energy efficiency sector.

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

Lending by Britain's top five banks shrank every quarter last year, official figures revealed today, in an embarrassing blow to the British Chancellor's Project Merlin agreement.

IRELAND is on course to become the fastest-growing eurozone economy by 2015, but it will be a jobless recovery, according to the latest Ernst & Young’s Autumn Eurozone Forecast.

THE European Central Bank (ECB) risks making a “fundamental policy mistake” if it raises interest rates, a new report has warned.

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.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is announcing €9m in grants to 43 companies to reduce their energy bills.

TRACKER mortgage customers were again given a reprieve from rising interest rates yesterday with the European Central Bank (ECB) holding rates at the record low 1%.

TIMELY cost reductions and strong fundamentals are driving a faster than expected economic recovery, but this will not translate into jobs until 2014 or later.

Britain's manufacturers will only see a muted recovery this year under a "far from certain" outlook for the UK economy, a new report predicted today.

The Bank of England made history today by slashing interest rates to an all-time low of 1.5%.

Inflation fears deterred British economic policymakers from a second rate cut in as many months today.

Business leaders urged the Bank of England not to raise interest rates this week, arguing that inflation was easing.

The Bank of England’s decision to spare businesses a further rise in interest rates proved to be a crumb of comfort for manufacturers this week.

The Bank of England kept UK interest rates on hold at 5% today – as further signs of a booming housing market raised the prospect of a hike next year.

The Bank of England pegged interest rates at 4.5% for the 10th month in a row today as economists continued to predict the next change will be upwards.

The Bank of England cut interest rates today for the first time in two years.

The Bank of England kept higher borrowing costs at bay for millions of homeowners today by freezing interest rates for the eighth month in a row.

Rising oil prices and interest rates have hit confidence in British service firms but manufacturers have recorded their best spell of orders for nine years, two new surveys showed today.

The Bank of England (BoE) has decide to hold its benchmark interest rate at 4%, deciding against a third increase since November.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown was today urged to act fast to protect Britain’s stricken manufacturing industry.

Manufacturers are set for a boost with the Bank of England expected to cut interest rates for the first time in a year.