Australia

On Thursday, 20 January 2011, Brian Cowen, Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) announced that a general election will be held on 11 March 2011. Somewhat earlier than he and his Fianna Fáil Party would have liked - their preference was the 25th - it is unlikely to make any significant difference to their expected trouncing at the election by a Fine Gael/Labour coalition.

A prominent headline on the front page of the Brisbane Courier-Mail reads: FLOOD RELIEF APPEAL Australia Unites Donate Now

Shares in Mothercare were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the retailer reported a it had been impacted by the cold weather in the 12 weeks to 1 January 2011.

The latest Wikileaks "revelations" have got the internet and the media all abuzz with excitement and yet they pale into insignificance when compared with the leaked emails by a group of scientists in what came to be known as "Climategate".

Shares in Diageo were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of an interim management statement from the brewer, due out tomorrow.

Shares in Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after Rio Tinto denied reports that a planned joint venture between the two is on the brink of collapse.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of key data on unemployment in the USA.

As England go into their third test against Pakistan this week, one thing is certain to be hiding at the backs of everyone's minds. The Ashes.

In a media statement issued on 10 August 2010, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks' Chief Executive Officer, Lynne Peacock said: "We continue to follow a very steady and prudent course....our strategic direction is unchanged. Firmly focused on growing our existing business, we remain committed to supporting our existing customers and are on track to deliver £10 billion of gross new lending by October next year."

Shares in Xstrata were up on the FTSE 100 after the Swiss mining company said it had doubled its operating profit in the half year ended 30 June.

Shares in IG Group Holdings were down on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading despite posting a rise in adjusted pre-tax profit of 25 per cent to £157.6 million in the full year ended 31 May.

India's largest bus manufacturer, Ashok Leyland, is going to implement a 6-liter engine that will run on clean natural gas (CNG) enriched with hydrogen, making it the first bus powered by an internal combustion engine aided by hydrogen.

Kobo Inc's lite e-Reader is set to bring eBooks to the 'budget' market by significantly undercutting rivals at a price of £99 ($149).

RBS shares have fallen on the FTSE 100 as it emerged that American Express had joined the bidding for its Worldpay - payment processing.