Obama: EU 'must focus on growth'

Sun, 20 May 2012 06:09:32 GMT

Speaking after the G8 summit, US President Obama says leaders agree that economies must focus on jobs and growth to boost recovery.

Facebook shares see modest debut

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:49:36 GMT

Facebook shares end a volatile first day of trading at $38.23, barely above the company's initial pricing, having initially jumped more than 10%.

Yahoo jumps on Alibaba deal talk

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:35:40 GMT

Shares in internet giant Yahoo rise 5% on reports that it is close to selling its valuable stake in Alibaba Group, the Chinese e-commerce company.

Merkel 'suggests Greek euro vote'

Fri, 18 May 2012 21:13:41 GMT

Greek officials say Germany's Chancellor Merkel has suggested a euro referendum, but Berlin denies the report.

N Rock rescue 'could cost £2bn'

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:00:31 GMT

The taxpayer could lose about £2bn once the assets of collapsed bank Northern Rock are wound down, the National Audit Office estimates.

JP Morgan boss to testify in US

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:01:13 GMT

JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon will appear before a Senate committee to explain the bank's $2bn trading loss on a failed hedging strategy.

UK in £50m pork deal with China

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:56:56 GMT

The UK agrees a £50m trade deal to sell pork to China, the world's biggest market for pig meat, where parts such as offal and trotters are more popular.

HMRC defends child benefit plan

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:00:43 GMT

Asking people to reveal financial information to their partners is legal, HM Revenue & Customs says, despite claims it breaks confidentiality rules.

Cuban offshore oil attempt fails

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:34 GMT

Spain's Repsol oil company says a first attempt to find oil off Cuba's northern coast has been unsuccessful.

LSE reveals strong profits rise

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:11:57 GMT

The London Stock Exchange bucks the economic turmoil to deliver a better-than-expected rise in annual profit.

Argentine gas exports cancelled

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:41:57 GMT

Spanish energy giant Repsol cancels a contract to provide gas to Argentina, in a continuing row after Buenos Aries nationalised one of its subsidiaries.

Rain dampens sales at pub group

Fri, 18 May 2012 07:35:33 GMT

Pubs group Mitchells & Butlers reports a sharp slowdown in sales, saying the recent wet weather has led to fewer customers.

Stagecoach in £100m US expansion

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:08:43 GMT

Perth transport group Stagecoach is to buy parts of a US bus firm for about £100m, helping it expand its operations.

EU 'plans for Greek exit option'

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:19:23 GMT

The EU Commission and European Central Bank are making contingency plans for a possible Greek exit from the euro, an EU commissioner says.

Facebook boss in surprise wedding

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:16:38 GMT

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ends a hectic week by getting married to long -time girlfriend Priscilla Chan in a surprise ceremony at his home.

Inside world's ‘priciest house’

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:36:24 GMT

The first pictures are released showing inside the "world's most expensive house", owned by the Ambani family in Mumbai.

£9k fees 'to push debt up £100bn'

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:38:12 GMT

A study suggests public sector debt will be pushed up by £100bn over next two decades by higher university fees.

Private rents 'increasing again'

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:00:49 GMT

Private rents in England and Wales went up by 0.5% in April, according to letting agency group LSL Property Services.

More households in fuel poverty

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:30:03 GMT

Gas and electricity price rises at the end of last year are expected to have pushed 400,000 more households in England into fuel poverty.

Market jitters over eurozone woes

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:31:52 GMT

European markets suffer a nervous session with investors unsettled by a downgrade for Spanish banks and the political crisis in Greece.

China property prices fall again

Fri, 18 May 2012 07:19:33 GMT

Chinese property prices continued to fall during April after the government kept policies in place to curb speculation.

Spain's cost of borrowing jumps

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:16:17 GMT

The cost of borrowing on the international money markets rise sharply for Spain as investors fear further financial turmoil in Europe.

Moody's downgrades Spanish banks

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:12:10 GMT

Ratings agency Moody's cuts the credit ratings of 16 Spanish banks, as shares in struggling lender Bankia fell another 14%.

Jobs boost as UK gets Astra deal

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:12:33 GMT

Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port car plant will build a new Astra car in a deal that means huge investment and the creation and support of thousands of jobs.

US puts tariffs on Chinese panels

Fri, 18 May 2012 01:18:37 GMT

The US says it will impose import tariffs of about 30% on Chinese solar companies, saying China is flooding it with subsidised products.

Ticketus deal 'being terminated'

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:36:51 GMT

Charles Green says administrators at Rangers have told Ticketus they are terminating its contract over future ticket sales.

Debt-ridden Glens to get IFA loan

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:54:59 GMT

Glentoran's cash flow crisis is expected to be eased by a loan from the Irish Football Association.

Sierra Leone league resumes

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:07 GMT

Sierra Leone's football league resumed on Friday, less than a week after suspending operations because of a shortage of funds.

AUDIO: Peston: Rock loss 'not a disaster'

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:26:06 GMT

A report published by the National Audit Office into the creation and sale of Northern Rock reveals that the government is likely to lose £2bn overall by the time all the assets are wound down. The BBC's business editor Robert Peston has the details.

VIDEO: EU 'taking all neccessary action'

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:10:01 GMT

EU Economic Commissioner Olli Rehn has said the eurozone is taking "all neccessary action in order to overcome" the debt crisis.

VIDEO: Eurozone in spotlight at G8 talks

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:36:28 GMT

The leaders of the G8 group of the world's most powerful economies say they want debt-stricken Greece to remain in the eurozone.

VIDEO: Facebook shares see modest debut

Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:10 GMT

Facebook shares ended their first day of trading at $38.23, barely above the company's initial pricing of $38.

VIDEO: Should Britain build a spaceport?

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:24:53 GMT

A new report is recommending that the UK builds its own spaceport, to enable tourists to go into space.

VIDEO: 'Business leaders should work harder'

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:55:28 GMT

Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie has said British business leaders should work harder to get the UK out of the current economic downturn.

VIDEO: From prison to Belfast distillery

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:01:39 GMT

A notorious Belfast prison that held IRA inmates during the worst of the city's sectarian troubles is to be transformed into a whiskey distillery.

VIDEO: UK signs pig deal with China

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:49:14 GMT

The government has signed a multi-million pound deal to export British pork to China.

Facebook: How the others fared

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:20:27 GMT

How have other internet companies fared since flotation?

Euro fears on the streets of Spain

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:48:05 GMT

Spain, feeling fragile, looks to Germany for help

Pawnbrokers attracting new custom

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:01:11 GMT

Offering shoes and handbags as security for a loan

Huge economic challenge awaits Egypt's next leader

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:26:18 GMT

Egypt's economic crisis sets major task for country's next leader

The entrepreneurs aiming to rebuild Greece

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:01:03 GMT

The young entrepreneurs aiming to rebuild Greece

Asian trading heads for online

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:00:59 GMT

The social networks breaking Asia's stock market traditions

How to ask for a pay rise

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:10:03 GMT

How to ask your boss for a pay rise