ECB's Noyer says French downgrade "not justified" (Reuters) Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Reuters - A downgrade of France's AAA credit rating would not be justified and ratings agencies are making decisions based more on politics than economics, European Central Bank policymaker Christian Noyer said on Thursday.

Japan business confidence slumps Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Japanese manufacturers' sentiment has turned pessimistic due to a strong yen and Europe's debt crisis, the latest Tankan survey finds.

Olympus shares drop 19.6 percent after accounts restated (Reuters) Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Reuters - Shares of Olympus tumbled as much as 19.6 percent on Thursday, a day after the company restated financial accounts after a 13-year fraud, with a dent in its balance sheet triggering speculation it will need to raise capital to repair its finances.

Pension scheme closures 'go on' Thu, 15 Dec 2011

The closure of final-salary pension schemes to existing staff in the private sector has continued in 2011, a report says.

Eurozone 'faces winter recession' Thu, 15 Dec 2011

The eurozone is facing a "bleak" winter including a recession in the first half of 2012, according to audit firm Ernst & Young.

Chinese luxury labels challenge Western counterparts Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Can Chinese labels challenge Louis Vuitton and Prada?

Tech choices in users' hands Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Fujitsu's quest to put tech choices in its users' hands

US youth entrepreneurship on the slide Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Are young entrepreneurs in the US now a dying breed?

How overseas jobs hit family life Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Why life isn't always good when your partner gets a job overseas

Latin America gets huge airline Wed, 14 Dec 2011

The merger of two major Latin American airlines is approved, creating the largest carrier in the region, LATAM.

Renault heirs challenge seizure Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Heirs of the founder of the French car company Renault demand in court compensation for the nationalisation of the firm after World War II.

Buick to introduce small crossover SUV (AP) Wed, 14 Dec 2011

AP - General Motors says its Buick brand will unveil a new compact crossover SUV called the Encore at the Detroit auto show.

First Offshore Lease Auction Since BP Oil Spill Fetches $337.7 Million (ContributorNetwork) Wed, 14 Dec 2011

ContributorNetwork - For the first time since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, the federal government held an auction to sell offshore petroleum leases in the region, according to the Associated Press. Although the auction fetched $337.7 million in winning bids, 20 companies placed bids cumulatively worth $712.7 million.

Study: Ohio stores will lose $137M to online shops (AP) Wed, 14 Dec 2011

AP - A new study asserts that Ohio retailers will lose $137 million in sales this holiday season to online competitors.

Credit Agricole to cut 2,350 jobs Wed, 14 Dec 2011

French bank Credit Agricole, one of the most exposed to the eurozone debt crisis, says it will cut 2,350 jobs worldwide.

CEOs see slow, uneven recovery: Roundtable (Reuters) Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Reuters - Chief executives expect the U.S. economy to continue its slow, uneven recovery over the next few months and are concerned about the rising costs of raw materials and the expense of complying with regulations, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

Student loan firm's fraud alert Wed, 14 Dec 2011

The Student Loans Company is ringing customers to tell them they are at risk of having their details "compromised" by fraudsters.

Harrisburg, Pa., mayor avoids foreclosure, pays up (AP) Wed, 14 Dec 2011

AP - The mayor of Pennsylvania's financially struggling capital city has brought her mortgage payments up to date, avoiding foreclosure on a property where she once ran a mortgage counseling service.

Unemployment increases to 2.64m Wed, 14 Dec 2011

UK unemployment rose by 128,000 in the three months to October to 2.64 million, as youth unemployment hits a new record high.

Euro hits new 11-month dollar low Wed, 14 Dec 2011

The euro drops below $1.30 for the first time since January as concerns continue over the future of the eurozone.

VIDEO: OPEC limit reflects economy fears Wed, 14 Dec 2011

The BBC's Aaron Heslehurst on Opec's reported first limit on oil production in three years - and the continued woes of travel agent Thomas Cook.

Co-op in line for Lloyds branches Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Lloyds says its preferred option for the sale of 630 retail bank branches is to sell them to the Co-operative Group.

AUDIO: Is austerity working in Greece? Wed, 14 Dec 2011

An economist told Radio 5 live Wake up To Money why he did not think the Greek austerity measures were working.

Olympus files financial earnings Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Japan's camera maker Olympus submits revised earnings reports to try to avoid being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Paypal plans daily deal coupons Wed, 14 Dec 2011

The online payment service for eBay plans to launch a discount coupon service in 2012, posing competition to Groupon and Livingsocial.

Thomas Cook to close 200 branches Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Travel firm Thomas Cook says it will close 200 UK outlets over the next two years as it reports a £398m annual loss.

Indian inflation remains above 9% Wed, 14 Dec 2011

India's inflation rate fell in November, but it remains high even though the economy faces slower growth.

Google moves to delete fraud apps Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Google has been forced to delete 22 applications from its Android Market after a dangerous text message fraud scam was discovered.

OFT to study car insurance costs Wed, 14 Dec 2011

The cost of motor insurance in the UK is to be investigated fully by the Office of Fair Trading.

Mortgage refinance demand jumped last week: MBA (Reuters) Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Reuters - Applications for refinancing on home mortgages jumped last week, even as demand for new home purchases dried up, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Japan's Nexon in $1.2bn float Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Online gaming company Nexon gets a lukewarm response from investors to its $1.2bn initial public offering, Japan's biggest this year.

Morrisons unveils 7,000 new jobs Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Supermarket chain Morrisons says it plans to hire more than 7,000 people, mostly to staff new branches.

VIDEO: Young Portuguese leaving for Brazil Wed, 14 Dec 2011

One in 10 Portuguese graduates now leaves their country to find employment in Brazil.

Warehouse cost hits Superdry firm Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Supergroup - the firm behind the Superdry fashion brand - reports a dip in half-year profits after being hit by distribution problems.

China vows to grow in 'grim' 2012 Wed, 14 Dec 2011

China's economic policymakers pledge to guarantee growth in 2012, despite an "extremely grim" global outlook for the year ahead.

AUDIO: Wozniak: 'Think for yourself' Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak, speaks to the Today Programme's Evan Davis about how going against the grain in business in the key to innovation.

Asia profits boost for Zara firm Wed, 14 Dec 2011

The world's largest clothes retailer, Inditex, which owns the Zara chain, reports a rise in profits and sales as it continues to expand.

VIDEO: Cuban car sale rise after law change Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Car sales in Cuba have risen sharply since restrictions on buying and selling vehicles were lifted a couple of months ago.

VIDEO: Olympus faces final deadline Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Japanese electronics maker Olympus must file its quarterly earnings or it will face automatic delisting from the Tokyo markets.

Hong Kong 'most developed' market Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Hong Kong is the world's most developed financial market, according to a World Economic Forum report.

HK jeweller's launch disappoints Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Hong Kong jewellers Chow Tai Fook raises $2bn in territory's third biggest initial public offering this year - less than was hoped.

VIDEO: India's struggle with price rises Wed, 14 Dec 2011

India's economy is slowing despite persistently high price rises, limiting options for policy makers.

VIDEO: HTC awaits US copyright decision Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Phonemaker HTC is waiting for a US decision that could be a 'massive blow' if it is found to have infringed Apple's copyright.

Weaving independence for Moroccan women Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Basket-making brings business to rural Moroccan women

German apprenticeships: A model for Europe? Wed, 14 Dec 2011

Are Germany's apprenticeships a model for Europe?

Future costs of youth unemployment Wed, 14 Dec 2011

How youth unemployment creates future problems

Apple papers are sold for $1.6m Tue, 13 Dec 2011

Apple's original partnership agreements, signed by its three founders, sell for $1,594,500 (£1.03m) at auction.

Euro at its lowest since January Tue, 13 Dec 2011

The euro drops to an 11-month low against the dollar as concerns continue over the future of the eurozone.

Fed continues stimulus measures Tue, 13 Dec 2011

The US Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged and says that it will continue with its bond-buying stimulus programme.

US brings Siemens bribery charges Tue, 13 Dec 2011

US authorities charge eight former executives at industrial giant Siemens in connection with a $100m (£64m) foreign bribery scheme.