BUSINESS

Boots, which already has a foothold in China, expects the deal to strengthen its Asian presence.

A financial news service has compiled a list of the world's ten poorest countries based on data from the World Bank.

Chinese company Alibaba says Google put pressure on Acer to stop launch of phone running its operating system.

Companies such as Tesco, Walmart and Carrefour could open their stores in the country.

The Fed has followed the ECB with a "no limits" pledge on market intervention but evidence suggests their efforts haven't hit their most important target.

Expanded product range and reaching out to new customers help boost Italian car manufacturer's sales and profits.

Talk for fourth European bailout intensifies as Euro Area finance ministers prepare for two-day meeting in Nicosia.

The Fed's announcement of QE3 cheers stock, commodities and bullion markets. Oil records four-month high and gold hits six-month high.

US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee holds hearing on security concerns posed by Chinese Telecom giants Huawei and ZTE.

Phillip Monks, head of challenger bank Aldermore, insists small business demanding finance as he signs up for Bank of England's Funding for Lending Scheme.

Greece's Finance Ministry denies need for new bailout after Thanos Catsambas tells Wall Street Journal that Troika demands are "totally unrealistic".

Shares in retailer Next dropped on the FTSE 100 despite the group reporting a rise in revenue and profit in the half year to July 2012.

Businesses claiming to be mis-sold derivatives by banks dodge FSA agreement by fleeing to lawyers instead.

US Treasury lawyers recommend a preliminary settlement with Standard Chartered, says New York Times report.

Planned $45bn tie-up would create global aerospace and defence giant but raise significant anti-trust and security concerns.

Huawei dubs charges against it as "allegations based on allegations".

Retailer posts 60 percent rise in first half profits as department store and Waitrose units defy retail gloom

Thai Beverages offers £4.5bn for Fraser & Neave, the parent company of Tiger beer maker Asia Pacific Breweries.

Peter Cummings is only former HBOS banker penalised by City regulator as result of near-collapse of bank which was rescued by Lloyds.

Shares in Barratt Developments were down on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading despite the housebuilder reporting a more than doubling of pre-tax profit for the full year ended 30 June 2012.

Shares in Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q, saw its shares rise on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after performing "as well as could be expected" in the half year ended 28 July 2012.

Industrial output in sectors such as mining, factory and utilities grew only 0.1 percent in July.

European shares touched a 14-month high and the euro traded at its strongest level against the US dollar since May after the German Constitutional Court approved taxpayer participation in the European Union's permanent bailout fund.

Deutsche bank has announced plans to cut costs and encourage a change in employee behaviour to overhaul its work culture.

Barclays reaches out-of-court settlement over interest rate swap agreement dispute ahead of October court hearing.

Official data shows robust labour market despite UK recession

Facebook stock rose after founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg made his first major public appearance since the social network floated on the New York stock exchange in May.

EU unveils plans to regulate financial sector in headline-filled session for European investors.

Facebook CEO hints at greater emphasis on mobile - but quashes rumours about a Facebook phone during TechCrunch conference.