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.

Lending through the Bank of England’s flagship credit programme rose in the second quarter, led by Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide Building Society, with banks expecting further expansion through the rest of 2013.

Lending under a flagship state scheme in the UK increased between April and June, but small firms remain starved of credit, new figures have revealed.

Mark Carney’s arrival as the governor of the Bank of England appears to have had an immediate impact on the bank’s monetary policy committee.

Bank of England policymakers will decide tomorrow whether to inject billions more pounds of stimulus into the UK economy or to hold off amid tentative signs of a recovery.

A scheme in the UK aimed at boosting credit to households and businesses has so far failed to get banks and building societies to lend more, figures showed today.

Racing's rulers were "left with no choice" but to delay the publication of the fixture list for 2011.

Worries over a double-dip recession caused by savage belt-tightening across major economies have given Bank of England rate-setter Adam Posen sleepless nights, he admitted today.

A Chicago development group is suing US heiress Nicky Hilton for breach of contract over a delayed hotel renovation project.

Goffs Bloodstock Sales today launched a catalogue of two-year-olds for its inaugural Flat breeze up sale to be held at Kempton Park on Friday, March 9.