Goldman Sachs apologised for its role in the financial crisis on Tuesday and pledged $500m over five years – or about 2.3% of its estimated bonus and salary pool for 2009 – to help 10,000 US small businesses recover from the ­recession. Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman’s CEO, told a corporate conference in New York that the bank regretted taking part in the cheap credit boom that had fueled the pre-crisis bubble. “We participated in things that were clearly wrong and have reason to regret,” said Mr Blankfein. “We apologise.” [FT]