ECONOMY

Unlike Moody's and S&P, which downgraded France, Fitch reaffirms France's top credit rating.

German auto market hit by rising unemployment for eighth consecutive month.

ONS construction sector data adds to disappointing data for UK economy's fourth quarter.

Swiss investment bank faces fine that is more than double amount Barclays paid for manipulating Libor, say reports.

Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index hits nine-month high but still below expansion threshold.

Cost cutting and restructuring measures help airlines fly out of rough patch.

House prices to go up 2 percent, while rents to rise about 4 percent.

Bank of Japan's Tankan survey shows business confidence remains weakest in almost three years.

PetroChina to buy 49.9 percent stake in project for $2.2bn.

S&P follows Fitch in lowering AAA rating outlook while investors brace for imminent downgrades.

Chancellor tells Treasury select committee 'ultimate test' is gilt market with UK's top rating at risk after autumn statement.

Difficult macroeconomic environment and restructuring costs will have a significant negative impact on Germany's biggest lender fourth quarter results

European Finance Ministers will send €34.1bn to Athens next week in latest rescue for debt-stricken Greece

Greece will receive nearly €50bn in aid from its international lenders after European finance ministers approved a series of measures aimed at reducing the troubled nation's debt load.

Eurostat and ONS data shows Britons felt the burn of government austerity, an impending recession and global crises in 2011.

Britain tops in e-commerce, mobile-data usage and viewing television over internet.

Government lifts ban on controversial method to produce shale gas despite environmental protests.

BAE Systems scores its third major military contract in one week

Struggling entertainment retailer says it may breach terms of its bank financing in January as sales slump

80% holding in Migros to give Wal-Mart Tansas, Macrocenter and 5 M supermarkets.

Britain's biggest sports retailer rings in more than £1bn in sales

And so after long talks into the night a deal has been reached on rules for supervising Eurozone banks by EU finance leaders in the 27 strong block as the two day EU Summit starts in Brussels today.

Overseer to have wide-ranging powers including on licences and sanctions.

Rate to be maintained till unemployment dips to 6.5% or lower.

Deutsche Bank ‘s co-CEO Juergen Fitschen and CFO Stefan Krause are targets of an investigation by German state prosecutors

Benchmark gauge of global shipping costs falls more than 12 percent in two days following weak US and China trade data

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) reappoints Abdullah al-Badri and keeps oil production target

Investment bank appoints UK regulator's former boss as head of compliance and government and regulatory relations.

India launches probe into Wal-Mart's lobbying practices to find out how much money the retail giant has spent in India.