Chancellor Alistair Darling warns people not to expect a "giveaway" when he unveils his Budget later this month.

About 24,000 clients of HSBC's private banking operation in Switzerland had personal details stolen, the bank admits.

Department store group John Lewis reports a 9.7% rise in annual profits to £306.6m as staff share a bumper bonus.

The union representing BA cabin crew says there will be no immediate announcement about strike dates.

Barack Obama urges China to change its currency strategy, a move that would effectively raise the value of the yuan and benefit US exporters.

Network Rail maintenance workers vote in favour of strikes, bringing about the possibility of action over Easter.

The energy company Scottish Power says its gas prices will fall by around £66 a year and vulnerable customers will get extra help.

The Red Knights group eyeing a possible bid for Manchester United says investment bank Nomura will advise it.

The validity of Portsmouth's administration will not be challenged by HM Revenue & Customs, the BBC learns.

Mexican Carlos Slim Huan overtakes Bill Gates as the world's richest man, according to the Forbes 'rich list'.

Pink Floyd tracks may be removed from digital music services like iTunes after a High Court ruling.

Man Utd: The takeover maths in detail

The Independent could be free under a new owner

The extra ordinary life of the man from the Pru

Brazil exploits potential as web use spreads

Why intellectual property is not a luxury

Can you fit a wind turbine in a housing estate?

The US trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly in January as fewer foreign cars and less crude oil were imported.

A free national financial advice service is being launched by the government.

A firm of solicitors which worked for a leading claims management company has been shut down by the solicitors' regulator.

The global airline industry will recover strongly this year, as passenger and freight numbers improve, its trade body says.

German carmakers Volkswagen and BMW report falling profits after the global downturn hit demand for cars.

Oil giant BP announces a $7bn (£4.7bn) deal that will allow it to begin exploring for oil off the coast of Brazil.

Johnston Press, the owners of the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post, sees full year pre-tax profits fall by 56% to £43m.

The UK's fourth biggest supermarket group, Morrisons, reports a 30% rise in annual profits after it opens more stores.

Insurers paid out £650m from 335,000 claims made as a result of damage caused by the wintry weather in the UK.

Chinese inflation hit a 16-month high in February, leading to calls for the government to take measures to cool the economy.

Banking group Investec is to join the FTSE 100 following the latest reshuffle of the UK stock market indexes.

Bank accounts which charge fees for extra benefits may be being mis-sold, the Financial Services Authority has warned.

Fraudsters are continuing their switch from traditional card fraud to raiding online bank accounts, research suggests.

The Financial Services Authority is delaying its plans to combat the mis-selling of payment protection insurance.

Japan's economy grew by less than first estimated in the final quarter of 2009, revised government figures show.

Plans for a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham are announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

Greek public and transport services grind to a halt and clashes break out during a third strike over austerity measures.

Carmaker Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota, is recalling 274,551 vehicles in Japan because of a number of possible defects.

Manchester United signs a five-year sponsorship deal with communications group Telekom Malaysia.

Administrators at Portsmouth FC start to make employees redundant, with 85 people losing their jobs.

Toyota rejects claims that faulty electronics could be behind its worldwide recall of more than eight million cars.

UK car sales in February were up by 26.4% compared with the same month last year, industry figures show.

A Welsh MP echoes concerns of a former UK sports minister on the benefits of the London Olympics to the rest of the country.

A Shanghai company denies it used sweatshop labour to produce World Cup mascots, as Fifa suspends its contract.