Wall Street stocks rebounded Tuesday behind solid retail data and reassuring comments from Federal Reserve officials, while oil prices rose and the dollar slid.

According to the M&S Family Matters Index, family optimism in the UK is at its highest in two years as 45 per cent of the population have high hopes about their future.

Major stock markets mostly advanced Monday, with attention focused on central banks this week and their latest decisions over interest rates as inflation remains high.

The Office for National Statistics reported that the "prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose at the fastest rate in more than 45 years in the 12 months to February 2023."

Asian and European stock markets mostly rose Friday, extending a global rally, as traders welcomed a multi-billion-dollar show of support for troubled banks aimed at soothing concerns about contagion in the sector.

Any prospect of Scotland breaking away from the United Kingdom used to have momentous implications for U.K. markets. Nowadays, not so much.

Britain's stocks and bonds are drawing strong buying interest, not quite a vote of confidence in the economy but a reassuring sign for policymakers that a deep investment freeze in British markets prompted by last year's upheaval has thawed.

UK inflation slowed to 10.5 percent in December -- still around 40-year highs and more than five times the BoE's official target level of two percent.

The moment of truth is almost here for Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak and finance minister Jeremy Hunt.

European shares were nearly flat on Tuesday as a sharp decline in British telecom group Vodafone, after it slashed its full-year forecasts, eclipsed gains in the utilities sector.

Traders will be poring over policymakers' views on the outlook for the world's biggest economy as they try to rein in inflation while nurturing growth.

British markets braced for more political uncertainty on Wednesday, with investors keen to see if the new finance minister loosens the purse strings and wondering whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson will survive an exodus of support.

On Wednesday, daily global deaths from Covid-19 topped 18,000 for the first time.

An index of US consumer sentiment last week showed it hit a three-month low in July.

The easing of restrictions was providing a much-needed boost to oil markets.

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said he sees no downturn looming for the US economy.

Johnson says Brexit will free up the new government to concentrate on trying to grow the stalled economy.

Companies in the top quartile for gender and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above the industry average.

Shadow chancellor unveiled striking proposals on employee ownership and employee representation on the board, at Labour Party conference.

British luxury car maker Aston Martin is reported to be selling shares that would value the company at around £5 billion ($6.44 billion).

Construction giant has debts of £900m and entered voluntary liquidation after talks to keep it afloat failed.

The past 12 months have been largely positive for the stock markets, but the macroeconomic scenario appears increasingly uncertain as we enter 2018.

Merged company will have combined might of more than 9,500 screens spread across US and Europe.

Unite union describes the cuts as "savage" and questions why government signed off the lender's closure plans.

Lloyds Banking Group and Yorkshire Building Society to close a combined 62 branches, axing around 300 jobs.

Just Eat, Halma and DS Smith set to be promoted to London's blue chip index when changes become effective on 15 December.

Sports Direct founder says he will abstain from the vote but insists his brother should 'get paid' by the company

Chancellor abolishes Stamp Duty for all first time buyer purchases up to £300,000 as part of housing reforms.

Carillion issued a profit warning last July when it saw its market cap plunge from £1bn to just over £250m.

UK competition regulator gives preliminary clearance for Just Eat's multimillion pound takeover of rival food delivery service.