Thumbs down: Banks and credit card companies across the EU are abusing their power and charging consumers rip-off prices, a damning European Commission report published last week has revealed.

Artificially high fees and anti-competitive practices have been identified at the end of an 18-month inquiry by EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. She warned that she plans to step up scrutiny of banking behaviour, and of the effectiveness of the national laws under which retail banks, savings banks and credit card companies operate.

Sweet deal at M&S

Thumbs up: Marks & Spencer is to use only Fairtrade sugar in its entire range of conserves and marmalades, it has announced. The sugar comes from three villages in southern Malawi and will provide 280 co-operative farmers with a better deal, including payment of a premium to invest in improving their livelihoods and communities for the future. Some 95 per cent of the sugar in the range will have successfully converted to Fairtrade by the end of this month. Last year, M&S switched its entire tea and coffee business to Fairtrade, as well as introducing Fairtrade certified cotton clothing.

A roaring success

Thumbs up:Nestlé has quashed rumours that its Lion bar is to face the chop. The confectionery giant said it had "no plans" to discontinue the brand despite reports that its popularity was on the wane and the firm was looking for a buyer for the factory where the bars are manufactured.

Launched in 1976, the bars are aimed mainly at men aged between 16 and 24 - a group which continues to buy, a bemused Nestlé spokesman in Switzerland was forced to say.