ECONOMY

Britain will promote its retailers' overseas expansion under a two-year action plan.

South Korean government is planning to boost its lagging economy with stimulus measures, according to a report.

Australia's consumer confidence rises as sharp interest-rate cuts over more than a year boost economic activity.

IB Times UK presenter Marverine Cole looks at the challenges chancellor faces in 2013 Budget.

Telefonica's CFO Mark Evans investigates the challenges the digital economy presents for UK business.

China's oil demand growth-rate slows in February as the Lunar New Year holidays impacted consumption.

Britain's "oil deficit" falls to lowest level since 2008 as imports slow but manufacturing data disappoints.

PPI mis-selling spawns new industry as banks become inundated with claims for compensation, says employment group Manpower.

India's central bank expected to cut benchmark rates further despite high inflation rate.

Bank shifts 20 percent of wealth management business in trim of non-core operations.

The UK home sales are yet to reach levels seen before the financial crisis, says Rics

Australian firms remain less confident due to currency strength and weakness outside mining sector.

Only major UK bank not part of the governments Funding for Lending Scheme boosts SME lending pot

Italian Treasury faces stern test to raise €9bn after surprise GDP revision and Fitch downgrade.

Newly available City jobs rises to 2,583 in February from 2,331 in January, giving a promising start to the year.

Japan machinery orders drop sharply in January, signalling weak capital spending in the coming six to nine months.

Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards recommend banks to be broken up if they flout ring-fencing rules.

CBI expects the Budget on 20 March to be fiscally neutral and the economy to grow at a rate of 0.3 percent in first-quarter of 2013.

China undertakes major revamp in government bodies in charge of energy, rail and food safety to curb corruption.

The banking commission demands the inclusion of legal powers for the breakup of banks that violate ring-fencing rules.

China's factory output and retail sales data indicate underlying issues in the economy, which is still recovering from slow down.

Fitch believes that structural reforms are not possible in the near future, given the present political uncertainty in Italy.

The unprecedented jump in food prices is expected to be due to the seasonal distortions caused by the New Year holidays.

US February unemployment rate falls to 7.7 percent, the lowest since December 2008.

PM assertion that tax increases and spending cuts have not hurt growth are wrong, says the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Financial Services Authority reveals that banks paid customers £439m in January alone.

China's growing middle class will provide massive boost to the European tourism industry, says research

Investors bet on deeper central bank support in face of tepid data and rising political risks.

The US oil imports rise 12.3 percent in January while sales to Europe, China, Japan and Brazil decline.