RBS boss: I considered resigning

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:40:47 GMT

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive, Stephen Hester, tells the BBC he briefly considered resigning during the uproar over his bonus.

Airbus to make A380 crack checks

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:21:48 GMT

Aircraft maker Airbus has been ordered to check the wings of all A380 superjumbo planes currently in service.

Greek parties 'to finalise deal'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:15:58 GMT

Greek PM Lucas Papademos is set to meet coalition parties in an attempt to seal an austerity deal to secure a new EU/IMF bailout.

Jobs boost for economy in January

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:24:32 GMT

Employers added permanent jobs for the first time in four months in January, says the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

Nissan profits up on global sales

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:50:00 GMT

Nissan reports a 3.6% rise its profit for the October to December quarter despite disruptions caused by floods in Thailand.

Virgin Media posts strong profits

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:44:48 GMT

Strong demand for new TV services helped Virgin Media post a £48.2m profit in the fourth quarter.

Homeserve 'set to lose customers'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:50:15 GMT

Maintenance company Homeserve expects to lose more customers than previously thought after concerns over sales techniques, it says.

Theme parks help Disney profits

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:08:12 GMT

Profits for Walt Disney have risen thanks to the rising popularity of its theme parks and earnings from its television channels.

German exports hit record in 2011

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:50:17 GMT

German's trade surplus rises to 158bn euros in 2011 on record exports of 1.06tn euros, official figures show.

Profits decline at BHP Billiton

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:56:08 GMT

Anglo-Australian firm BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, reports lower profits due to falling prices of iron ore and coal.

India and Iran reach oil pay deal

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:11:45 GMT

India reaches an agreement with Iran to process payments for its crude oil imports, as US-led sanctions against Iran are tightened.

Yahoo board in another shake-up

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:11:12 GMT

Yahoo's chairman and three other board members step down as the tumult at the US web portal continues.

Scottish budget plan to be passed

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:02:26 GMT

Finance Secretary John Swinney looks set to offer last minute changes to his budget in an effort to secure opposition support.

Brazil's Itau has record profits

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:41:18 GMT

Itau Unibanco posts 14.6bn reais ($8.5bn, £5.3bn) of net profit in 2011, the highest ever for a bank from Brazil.

Canada PM in China to discuss oil

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:27:09 GMT

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits China for talks focussing on oil sales, energy and other economic ties.

Xinhua affiliate begins HK trade

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:38:07 GMT

A TV company linked to the Chinese news agency Xinhua has begun trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange as it seeks to broaden its reach overseas.

Dutch car plant in '1-euro' offer

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:22:39 GMT

A Mitsubishi Motors boss offers to sell its Dutch factory for one euro, a day after the Japanese car-maker said it was halting production there.

Budget political broadcasts axed

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:57:06 GMT

Budget Day political broadcasts have been axed, under new BBC rules.

Tax deal brings out 2,000 evaders

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:59:03 GMT

Some 2,000 people from the UK with money invested in Liechtenstein have come forward after the tax haven was put under the spotlight.

Stores offer warranty concessions

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:41:13 GMT

Dixons, Comet and Argos have pledged to improve the way extended warranties for electrical goods are sold, the Office for Fair Trading says.

EMA replacement 'failing young'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:04:56 GMT

A report suggests poor young students are dropping out of college because the government's bursary scheme is "inadequate".

Empty shop numbers 'set to rise'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:19:22 GMT

The number of empty shops on the UK's high streets is set to increase this year, a survey says, as economic conditions get tougher.

India growth 'to fall below 7%'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:18:36 GMT

India's economic growth is likely to dip below 7% for the 2011-12 financial year, new government statistics show.

'Gobsmacking' tax and NHS costs

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:01:02 GMT

Estimates showing £10.9bn in unpaid tax was written off and medical negligence could cost £15.7bn are examined by the Commons spending watchdog.

RBS boss: 'Prove critics wrong'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:33:05 GMT

RBS boss Stephen Hester breaks his silence on the controversy surrounding his bonus, saying the attention had been "discomforting, to say the least".

BP ups dividend as profits rise

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:28:28 GMT

BP announces sharply higher profits and increases its dividend to shareholders for the first time since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.

Glencore-Xstrata in $90bn merger

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:46:21 GMT

Anglo-Swiss mining group Xstrata unveils a $90bn merger with commodity trader Glencore, a move opposed by some major shareholders.

Redknapp tax trial jury sent home

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:24:34 GMT

The jury in the Harry Redknapp tax evasion trial is sent home for the day with deliberations to continue on Wednesday.

2012 venue naming rights for sale

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:40:35 GMT

The Olympic Park Legacy Company has launched a process to recruit sponsors of venues beyond London 2012.

Hearts face action over tax bill

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:43:40 GMT

Heart of Midlothian Football Club is given eight days by tax officials to pay an outstanding bill or face liquidation.

AUDIO: Stephen Hester: 'I am not a robot'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:37:16 GMT

RBS chief executive Stephen Hester has admitted that he considered resigning from his job after public anger over his bonus.

VIDEO: More shoppers haggling for goods

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:12:04 GMT

In these tough economic times more British shoppers are haggling for their goods according to a new report.

VIDEO: Empty shops rate hits 14%

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:15:42 GMT

One in every seven shops on the UK's High Streets stood empty at the end of 2011.

AUDIO: 'We should stop using the word bonus'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:39:24 GMT

Labour leader Ed Miliband, who has called for a tax on bankers' bonuses, is to lead a House of Commons vote on the issue. Peter Hahn, of the Cass Business School, and John Cridland, of the CBI, discuss whether executive pay is falling.

VIDEO: Can Greece take more austerity?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:45:51 GMT

In Greece, the government is said to be close to agreement on new austerity measures to qualify for more bailout funds.

VIDEO: Merger will create mining giant

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:45:03 GMT

News of a merger between mining firm Xstrata and commodities trader Glencore has been met with a mixed reception by investors.

VIDEO: Passing down wealth in India

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:27:42 GMT

A look at why passing down wealth to the next generation is important in India

AUDIO: Europe must do 'real' business

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:46:30 GMT

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad says Europe needs to produce 'real' goods and services, not rely on the financial sector

Would you vote for a 13.5% pay cut?

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:02:52 GMT

Would you vote for a 13.5% cut in your salary?

Truck sales 'hint at economic pickup'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:03:41 GMT

Builders' trucks sales point towards better times

My Business: From old cellar to successful winery

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:03:24 GMT

The Georgian winemaking twins reviving a lost art

What the Dickens is the author worth?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:05:25 GMT

Valuing the author's brand, 200 years after his birth

'Europe is poor so should live within its means'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:48:02 GMT

Time to learn from Asia and cut the cloth accordingly?

Road warriors struggle to get connected

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:09:39 GMT

Road warriors struggle to get connected

Arab Spring hits India mango trade

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:25:58 GMT

India's mango industry hit by Arab Spring