David Cameron has quietly dropped his support for a new generation of “garden cities” in a move that raises questions over the government’s commitment to tackling Britain’s escalating housing shortage. – Financial Times

Britain’s economic recovery is well under way but the country must learn the lessons of the financial crisis and move away from a dependence on debt, the head of the CBI has said. – The Telegraph

Almost 40% of fund managers in the City believe that the cost of borrowing will increase from its record low level as soon as next year, despite the Bank of England suggesting that interest rates would not rise before 2016. A survey by Capital Spreads found the majority view was that an increase would happen towards the end of 2014. – The Times

The government could complete the privatisation of Lloyds Banking Group in 2014 with the sale of the state’s remaining 33% holding in the lender, according to sources close to the process. – The Telegraph

The business secretary, Vince Cable, has asked his cabinet colleague Jeremy Hunt, at the Department of Health, for assurances that the recent privatisation of the state-owned blood plasma company will not leave the NHS short of life-saving products. – The Guardian

The City of London is gearing up for a much-needed float extravaganza in 2014, with firms worth a combined £30bn readying stock market floats. – The Daily Mail

Financial regulators in the UK have warned that consumers are increasingly being targeted by “dubious” firms offering investment opportunities in graphene, the carbon-based wonder material with a vast range of potential applications.
The Financial Conduct Authority will on Monday post new warnings on its website relating to “unscrupulous brokers” who “appear to be taking advantage of the hype surrounding graphene and are using uncertainty about its future as a way to entice consumers to invest”. – Financial Times