Industrial production in the 16 countries that use the € increased by much more than expected in January.The 1.7% growth between December and January was the largest monthly jump since Eurostat started producing the data in 1990 . The increase fuels
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has announced a 300m € ($412m; £270m) loan guarantee to General Motors (GM) Europe.The money will help secure operations at the carmaker's two Vauxhall plants in the UK and those of Opel in Europe . Lord Mande
US retail sales showed a surprise rise in February as consumers braved extreme bad weather to get to the shops.The US Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.3% last month, whereas forecasts had predicted a fall of 0.2% . The rise, the biggest
China's demand for oil jumped by an astonishing 28% in January compared with the same month a year earlier, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says.The body added that demand for oil in 2010 would be underpinned by rising demand from emerging m
The head of the Financial Services Authority is to announce plans for the regulator to toughen up protection for consumers over financial products.Hector Sants will say the FSA needs to stop risky products being sold, rather than just pay out compen
The union representing British Airways cabin crew plans to announce strike dates later this morning, the BBC understands.Unite has to give at least seven days' notice of any action, meaning strikes could start from Friday 19 March . The union has pl
A report into the collapse of Lehman Brothers criticises senior executives and auditor Ernst & Young for serious lapses that led to the firm's collapse.Lehman was insolvent for weeks before filing for bankruptcy in 2008, a court-appointed examin
The number of homes sold in England and Wales at the start of 2010 fell back to levels seen at the depths of the downturn, a survey says.Transaction levels fell to 36,000 in January, a drop of 52% compared with the previous month, and then only crep
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