A former US government informant was charged over the country’s largest case of credit and debit card data theft.

Eleven people face charges over the hacking of nine major US retailers and the theft and sale of more than 41 million credit and debit card numbers.

Better-than-expected profits from Citigroup and Bank of America lifted Wall Street today as investors grew more optimistic about a strong economic rebound. A late-day sell-off, however, limited the gains.