Business News
BBC News | Business | UK Edition
Argentina energy summit launched - 04 May 2006 20:18:36 GMT The leaders of Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil seek agreement on gas supplies and prices during an emergency energy summit.
New attempt to woo VNU investors - 04 May 2006 18:38:30 GMT The private equity group trying to buy Dutch media giant VNU ups its bid in an attempt to win over shareholders.
Second day of falling oil prices - 04 May 2006 17:33:17 GMT Crude oil prices fall for the second day and are now down by $5 a barrel since a report showed that US petrol reserves had risen.
Wal-Mart leads bumper US sales - 04 May 2006 17:10:01 GMT Warm weather and a late Easter has helped some of the United States' biggest retailers report bumper April sales.
LSE shares rise on Nasdaq move - 04 May 2006 16:58:13 GMT Shares in the London Stock Exchange rise after the US Nasdaq stock market beefs up its holding.
Debenhams shares rise on listing - 04 May 2006 16:56:39 GMT Department store Debenhams has once again listed on the London Stock exchange, with shares climbing by 2%.
'Open skies' deal faces delay - 04 May 2006 15:43:43 GMT Airlines, unions and congress members in the US have begun lobbying against a plan to give foreign investors more control over American carriers.
Boost to US productivity - 04 May 2006 15:20:51 GMT US workers upped productivity in the first quarter of 2006, says the Labor Department, but rising wages pose a threat to inflation.
Orange plans up to 2,000 job cuts - 04 May 2006 15:12:38 GMT Mobile phone group Orange plans to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 UK jobs as part of a cost-cutting review.
Hamas asks watchdog for funds - 04 May 2006 14:02:42 GMT Hamas is asking the Palestinian central bank for a $100m loan to help ease the government's funding crisis.
Bank of England keeps 4.5% rate - 04 May 2006 13:13:23 GMT The Bank of England votes to keep interest rates at 4.5%, for the ninth consecutive month.
Euro interest rate stays at 2.5% - 04 May 2006 11:45:58 GMT The European Central Bank keeps interest rates at 2.5% for May, but is now widely tipped to raise them in June.
UK service sector picks up pace - 04 May 2006 11:16:10 GMT The UK service sector expanded faster last month than at anytime in the past two years, a survey has revealed.
Petrobras scraps Bolivia project - 04 May 2006 09:31:41 GMT Brazilian energy firm Petrobras suspends investment in Bolivia following its neighbour's gas industry nationalisation.
House prices show sharp increase - 04 May 2006 09:13:17 GMT House price inflation rose sharply in April but is predicted to level off later in the year, Halifax bank has said.
M&B snubs pub bid approach - 04 May 2006 08:18:22 GMT Mitchells & Butlers, owner of the All Bar One and Harvester chains, rejects a £2.7bn bid approach from tycoon Robert Tchenguiz.
Niger Delta unrest dampens Shell - 04 May 2006 08:11:04 GMT Royal Dutch Shell has seen its first quarter profits climb by 12% but reports reduced output in Nigeria and the Gulf of Mexico.
UK consumers face 3-day wait - 04 May 2006 07:26:45 GMT People spend nearly three days waiting at home each year for workmen and deliveries to turn up, a Which? magazine survey suggests.
ICI to remove 2,300 jobs by 2011 - 04 May 2006 06:57:33 GMT Chemicals giant ICI announces that it plans to cut 2,300 jobs by 2011 as it aims to reduce annual costs by £170m.
Wait for new consoles knocks EA - 04 May 2006 06:42:31 GMT Electronic Arts reports a loss as computer gamers save their cash for the release of new consoles.
Profits down at troubled Hyundai - 04 May 2006 06:15:06 GMT Hyundai Motor, currently at the centre of a slush fund scandal, sees its quarterly profits dip 37%.
Royal Mail and DTI want £1.25bn - 03 May 2006 22:34:07 GMT The Royal Mail has the backing of the Department of Trade and Industry in its bid to get cash to modernise, and help plug a pension gap.
Economic data hint at US strength - 03 May 2006 16:17:18 GMT Economic data underlines the strength of the US economy, and suggests that interest rates could keep rising.
Widows lose asbestos Lords ruling - 03 May 2006 15:02:39 GMT Thousands of widows learn they will not receive full compensation for their husbands' deaths from an asbestos-related cancer.
Canadian 'loonie' hits fresh high - 03 May 2006 13:57:07 GMT The Canadian dollar or "loonie" is now pecking at the heels of the traditionally more robust US "greenback".
Warner Music throws out EMI bid - 03 May 2006 12:54:35 GMT US record firm Warner Music rejects a $4.2bn bid from EMI, six years after a failed merger between the two firms.
Fresh row brews over pub football - 03 May 2006 10:53:50 GMT The Premier League is warning landlords that they face court action if they show premiership football matches without subscribing to Sky.
Cash card taps game funds - 02 May 2006 13:03:25 GMT The makers of an online game have issued cash cards to allow gamers to access their virtual funds in real life.
Bank complaints 'could go to FSA' - 02 May 2006 09:12:43 GMT A banking watchdog threatens to report banks to the financial regulator unless they improve their handling of complaints.