Italy borrowing costs remain high
Italy has to pay the relatively high interest rate of just under 7% to borrow money, reflecting continued concerns about its economy......
D Telekom settles bribery charges
Deutsche Telekom and its Magyar Telekom arm agree to pay $95m to settle charges they paid bribes in Macedonia and Montenegro......
Debt experts issue help warning
Debt experts warn young people not to delay seeking help if Christmas has tipped them into unmanageable debt......
Rental deals 'morally bankrupt'
Low income families are being exploited by so-called rent-to-own deals on household appliances, a children's charity warns......
Monti: 'Unite to save eurozone'
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti calls for a 'united response' to the eurozone debt crisis as he outlines plan to get Italy out of recession......
China 'to withdraw' car support
China says it will withdraw support for foreign investment in the country's car industry to help domestic carmakers, according to state media......
US sells $30bn in jets to Saudis
The US confirms the sale of nearly $30bn of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, saying the deal would send a "strong message" to countries in the region......
Hungary abandons new debt auction
The Hungarian government has abandoned part of a planned bond auction and seen interest on the debt it did issue rise......
Iberia pilots strike hits flights
Spain's Iberia cancels more than a third of its flights as pilots hold a one-day strike over plans for a new low-cost airline......
Retailers 'face spending squeeze'
The UK retail sector faces another tough year in 2012, researchers say, with spending expected to rise at one of the slowest rates in decades......
Alibaba hires US lobbying firm
China's Alibaba Group hires US lobbying firm fuelling further speculation it is preparing a bid for internet giant Yahoo......
S Korea output sees domestic dip
South Korea's industrial output shrank in November as weaker domestic demand weighed on the construction and service sectors......
Bombardier handed 188m contract
Derby trainmaker Bombardier is awarded a 188m contract to build 130 carriages for rail company Southern......
Unemployment 'to worsen in 2012'
UK unemployment will keep rising in 2012 and peak in 2013, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development......
D2 Jeans goes into administration
Store chain D2 Jeans has gone into administration, making 200 staff redundant and putting hundreds more jobs at risk......
Big Society projects get 3.1m
Big Society projects are to receive 3.1m in funding from dormant bank accounts, the government announces......
Iran in threat to block oil route
Iran threatens to close a vital oil-trade route if the West imposes more sanctions over its controversial nuclear programme......
Gas pipeline gets Turkey go ahead
Turkey gives permission for the South Stream gas pipeline to be built across its territories, according to Russian gas giant Gazprom......
Google tops visited US sites list
Google and Facebook are 2011's most popular sites with US users according to Nielsen. Yahoo came in third, but its position may be precarious......
Betfair voids bets on horse race
Betfair voids all bets made during a race at Leopardstown after an "obvious technical failure" left it liable for a multi-million pound payout......
Call for new flood insurance deal
Tens of thousands of people who were flooded in 2007 may find it impossible to get cover for their homes and businesses unless the government and insurers reach a new agreement......
India and Japan in currency deal
India and Japan have signed a $15bn (9.7bn) currency swap agreement as the two nations seek to boost financial co-operation......
Cyprus confirms gas reserve find
Cyprus announces a major gas find which could help boost the country's struggling economy, but Turkey has opposed drilling......
Japan's industrial output dips 4%
Japan's industrial production falls in November, pulled down by a strong yen, weak global demand, and flooding in Thailand......
GoDaddy boycott over piracy views
Wikipedia and the firm behind Lolcats are ending links with GoDaddy following the US hosting firm's support for a controversial anti-piracy law......
Android and iOS activations soar
Estimates and official figures suggest a surge in activations of Google Android and Apple iOS devices on Christmas Day - more than double when compared to 2010......
LCD firms in price fix settlement
Six LCD screen makers, including Samsung, agree to pay $533m (357m) to settle claims they conspired to fix prices......
VIDEO: Aberdeen bucks economic trend
While most economists are predicting weak growth at best for the UK economy next year, Aberdeen in Scotland remains relatively unaffected by economic woes......
VIDEO: Warning issued over festive debt
Debt experts are warning people not to delay seeking help if Christmas has tipped them into uncontrollable debt......
VIDEO: Vulnerable 'exploited' by rent-to-buy
The children's charity, Barnardo's, has described companies which rent furniture and kitchen appliances to families who can't afford to buy them as "morally bankrupt"......
AUDIO: 'I couldn't stand being the richest man in the graveyard'
Entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter and Nick Jenkins of charity ARK discuss how to develop a culture of giving in Britain......
AUDIO: Does technology stop us talking?
The BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones looks at whether technology and social media is a help or hindrance to communication......
VIDEO: Swiss unions voice job loss fears
Trade unions in Switzerland have warned that thousands of jobs could be lost because of the eurozone crisis and the high value of the Swiss franc......
VIDEO: Flights hit as Iberia pilots strike
Pilots at the Spanish airline Iberia are holding a one-day strike on Thursday, grounding more than a third of all flights......
AUDIO: Pawnbrokers see rise in business
Pawnbrokers Albermale and Bond say their industry's boom is due to banks tightening their lending criteria......
The year in business: 2011
When Western economic foundations were shaken.....
Irish face new wave of emigration
New wave of young people leaving Ireland in search of jobs.....
Britain's boutique gin distilleries
London's new boutique distilleries give gin a modern remix.....
Australia's housing market faces tough times
Worrying rise in Australian repossessions.....
House prices: Will they fall or rise in 2012?
Will they fall or rise in 2012?.....
Today's email is 'not acceptable'
Email is unacceptable in its current form, says Mimecast boss.....
Solar power push faces challenges in Texas
Oil state Texas' green vision is under threat.....
U.S. Day Ahead: 2012 could end with fireworks
Dec. 29 - Friday is set to be dominated by two economic indicators, potential salacious scandal and a showdown between a bond guru and his former bosses......
Breakingviews: Confidence key for tech trends in 2012
Dec. 29 - The importance of confidence in cloud computing and cybersecurity are two of the hottest trends in tech......
DOJ online gambling ruling is confusing, says industry
Dec. 29 - American Gaming Association CEO Frank Fahrenkopf says the gambling sector needs uniform regulation to protect consumers and prevent illegal sites from operating in the U.S......
Stocks rise in light trading
Dec. 29 - Summary of business headlines: Stocks rise in early trade; Italian bond yields remain near 7 percent; 15-month low for euro vs. dollar; Jobless claims rise; Encouraging data on housing market. Bobbi Rebell reports......
ECB jumps back after lukewarm Italian sale
Dec. 29 - The euro sinks to a fifteen-month low and the ECB is forced to step back into the market after a poorly received Italian debt auction......
Iberia pilots' strike grounds flights
Dec. 29 - Pilots at Iberian airlines have gone on strike in Spain, affecting flights and travellers for the second time this month. Ciara Sutton reports......
Italian yields remain high after tough sale
Dec. 29 - Italy's borrowing costs fell from their recent record highs in an auction of ten-year debt, but remain at levels seen as unsustainable in the long term, underlining the challenges facing Prime Minister Mario Monti who has promised to tackle.....
Morning Briefing: U.S. jobless claims up; monitoring Syria
Dec. 29 - U.S. weekly initial jobless claims climbed for the first time in 4 weeks to 381,000, and Arab League monitors fan out across protest-hit Syria......
U.S. Day Ahead: Home sales set to spur recovery hopes
Economics Editor Stella Dawson says U.S. pending home sales could increase by two percent in November, another sign that the housing sector is stabilizing......
No downgrade fears for French AAA champagne
Dec. 29 - While France could lose its top AAA credit rating in 2012, a "Triple A" champagne, made with grapes from Avize, Ay and Ambonnay, has become a popular tipple. Ciara Sutton reports......
Model train delivers restaurant drinks
Dec. 29 - The Vytopna Railway Restaurant in Prague has installed a model railway to deliver drinks to waiting customers. Hayley Platt reports......
2012: Make or break for the euro zone
Dec. 29 - The euro zone debt crisis spread from the periphery to the core in 2011, as austerity and social unrest grew and governments fell. With Europe now looking to move towards closer to fiscal union, analysts say 2012 will be make or break for t.....
Rome 10Y auction could struggle: Citi
Dec. 29 - Record ECB deposits and uncertainty over Draghi's desire to hike bond buys are a bad omen for Italy, which tests demand for peripheral debt with an 8 bln auction of longer-term paper today......
Asian markets wind down 2011 with double-digit losses
Dec. 29 - Asian stock markets wind down an eventful year, marked by the Japan earthquake, Thai floods, debt crises and the Arab Spring. Arnold Gay reports......
China's labour unrest to continue in 2012
Dec. 29 - LG Display workers in Nanjing, China, return to work after a bonus dispute; but expect more unrest ahead, says labour activist. Jane Lanhee Lee reports......
U.S. Morning Call: Stock futures up, Alibaba hires lobbyist
Dec. 29 - U.S. stock futures are pointing to a steady open on Wall Street, and Alibaba Group hires a Washington lobbying firm in a sign that the company would be willing to make a bid for all of Yahoo......
European IPOs may need big backers to turn corner
Breakingviews......
Year-end rally fizzles
Dec. 28 - Summary of Business Headlines: S&P erases gains for the year; Euro hits fresh 11-month low; Crude prices fall back; Gasoline demand rises; Shoppers continue to spend post-holiday. Bobbi Rebell reports......
The economy in 2012
Dec. 28 - Top economists offer their forecasts for jobs, housing, and the euro zone crisis for 2012. Jill Bennett reports......
Worst customer satisfaction websites
Dec. 28 - Summary of business headlines: Netflix and Gap lose in customer satisfaction survey; Morgan Stanley job cuts; More retail cheer. Bobbi Rebell reports......
Morning Briefing: North Korea mourns Kim, Mubarak trial resumes
Dec. 28 - North Korea stages a huge funeral in Pyongyang for former leader Kim Jong-il, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's trial resumes after a delay of almost two months......
Trading at Noon: Wall St. falls on 2012 outlook concerns
Dec. 28 - U.S. stocks are down with investors expressing concern about the outlook for early 2012, and the S&P 500 erasing its gains for the year......
Poor Italian bond auction may not shake sentiment: Ladwa
Dec. 28 - Even a disappointing 8.5 billion Italian bond auction tomorrow may not hit market sentiment, according to Manoj Ladwa, Senior sales trader at ETX Capital......
Brazil not UK is 6th largest economy
Dec. 28 - A new survey from a London research group suggests Brazil has overtaken the UK as the world's sixth largest economy. Sonia Legg reports......
Queues for Spanish citizenship
Dec. 28 - Cubans and Argentines queue for Spanish citizenship as the "grandchild law" which gives grandchildren of Spaniards who fled the Civil War citizenship ends. Lily Grimes reports......
U.S. Mortgage Rates End Year at 3.95 Percent, Near Historic Low: Freddie Mac
U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates averaged 3.95 percent in the week ending Dec. 29, according to Freddie Mac......
Syrian forces kill 25 protesters, monitors reach cities
Syrian security forces shot dead 25 people on Thursday, including in cities being visited by Arab League monitors to check whether President Bashar al-Assad is keeping a pledge to end a crackdown on popular unrest......
Car Recalls 2011: Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Spiders Headline the List [PHOTOS]
As 2011 comes to a close, we&re taking a look back at some of the hiccups auto companies faced this year -- namely, problems in its cars that forced either voluntary or mandatory recalls......
Financier Edwards' RCR buys British Columbia ski resort
A ski resort company owned by Calgary financier Murray Edwards has bought Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in British Columbia from its Dutch developer, bringing to three the number of properties it owns in the Rocky Mountain region, which is known for .....
U.S. court revives Celestica shareholder lawsuit
Celestica Inc was ordered by a U.S. appeals court to face a shareholder lawsuit accusing the Canadian electronics company of securities fraud for misleading investors about its financial health and restructuring costs......
Vast Titanic collection to be sold off in one lot
The biggest collection of Titanic artefacts is to be sold off as a single lot in an auction timed for the 100th anniversary in April of the sinking of the famed ocean liner......
Police Apprehend Sex Offender Accused of Assaulting Teenager
The New York City Police Department announced that they apprehend a man in connection with sexually assaulting a teenage boy and posing as a police officer......
Scrappy spirit not enough to earn Raptors win
The Toronto Raptors delivered every ounce of effort they promised fans before their NBA home opener against Indiana on Wednesday but it would not be enough to secure the victory as the Pacers ran out 90-85 winners......
Will LaDainian Tomlinson Retire After the Season? Jets RB Says It's Possible
Could future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson be playing his last game this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins? The New York Jets runningback didn&t give a clear-cut answer to reporters on Thursday, but he did say that he would 'wait and see what hap.....
New Years Day 2012: 18 Tips For How-To Cure A Hangover
With New Year&s Eve around the corner, many feel the looming inevitability of the struggles of the hangover. We offer you 18 tips to fend off the inevitable aches and pains that will plague New Year&s Day 2012......
Sinead O'Connor: crack cocaine ended 16-day marriage
Move over, Whitney and Bobby......
"Game of Thrones" author posts excerpt from new book
Fans of novelist George R. R. Martin&s 'A Song of Ice and Fire' fantasy series are melting. The 'Game of Thrones' author just released a previously unpublished sample chapter from the upcoming sixth installment, 'The Winds of Winter,' on his Website......
Michael Buble defeats Young Jeezy's "Hustlerz Ambition"
Michael Buble continued his 'Christmas' reign at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart on Wednesday for the fifth consecutive week, keeping Adele and rapper Young Jeezy from the No. 1 position......
Family of Marine jet crash victims awarded $17.8 million
The surviving relatives of four family members killed when a Marine fighter jet crashed into their San Diego home in 2008 were awarded $17.8 million by a federal judge on Wednesday......
Kings of Leon frontman Caleb expecting first child
Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and his wife, Victoria&s Secret model Lily Aldridge, said on Thursday they are expecting their first child, ending a rollercoaster year for the rock band......
Meryl Streep is "brilliant" in "Iron Lady"
In interviews, star Meryl Streep and director Phyllida Lloyd ('Mamma Mia!') have joked that 'The Iron Lady,' their film about former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, is the girl version of 'King Lear.'......
Verizon to add $2 bill-pay charge
Verizon Wireless, which this month angered customers with three separate data service problems, said on Thursday it will add a $2 fee for one-time telephone and online bill payments......
Bombardier gets order for 5 business jets
Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO: Quote) said on Thursday its aerospace division has received a firm order for five Challenger 850 business jets valued at about $156 million......
Canon Powershot S95 vs Nikon Coolpix S3100: Which is Better?
Photography has long been a popular hobby for those who could afford quality cameras and had the free time to shoot what they wanted. With a point and shoot camera today, anyone can be a pro photographer, and the Canon Powershot S95 and Nikon Coolpix.....
Loonie flat but outperforms majors in thin trade
The Canadian dollar was little changed against the U.S. dollar on Thursday morning but that meant it outperformed other major currencies as the greenback consolidated the sharp safe-haven gains it made in thin year-end trade in the previous session......
Amazon shares dip on growth concerns
Amazon.com Inc shares fell to their lowest level since late March on Thursday on concern about sales growth during the online retailer&s crucial fourth quarter......
Sears lists 79 store closings, spares Illinois
Sears Holdings Corp (SHLD.O: Quote) on Thursday identified 79 of the 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores it said earlier this week it would close, with the list almost evenly split between the two chains......
Diamond Foods gains on rumors of Einhorn investment
Shares of Diamond Foods Inc <DMND.O>, currently the target of a regulatory probe, rose as much as 14 percent, after CNBC reported rumors that high-profile investor David Einhorn may have invested in the company......
New Year's Tears for Auld Lang Syne
For John Salemme, the mention of Egypt brings to my mind one thing: a lonely, tearful train ride on New Years Eve......
CAW seeks strike OK at Caterpillar plant
The head of the Canadian Auto Workers union is looking for a green light from members to potentially strike Caterpillar over a contract dispute in London, Ontario......
Paul Christoforo Exclusive Interview: Ocean Marketing Prez Talks Penny Arcade Incident, His Future
Paul Christoforo and his Ocean Marketing firm were dumped by N-Control Wednesday after a rude exchange with a customer went public. In an exclusive interview with the IBTimes, Christoforo discusses the incident, hate mail, and his future......
Michael Jordan Makes a Comeback in Marriage
The NBA legend is engaged to a Cuban-American model......
Russians Submerge Nuclear Submarine to Douse Fire
Russia tried to submerge a burning nuclear submarine at a navy shipyard on Thursday after battling for hours with helicopters and tug boats to bring the raging blaze under control......
Egyptian Police Raid U.S.-Backed Pro-Democracy Groups
Egyptian prosecutors and police raided offices of 17 pro-democracy and human rights groups Thursday - including several funded by the United States - in what rights defenders described as a campaign against them by the military rulers......
Anuj Bidve's Murder: Was it Really a Hate Crime?
Anuj Bidve was shot to death at close range on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) in Salford, a borough of Greater Manchester......
AstraZeneca staff find new jobs ahead of plant closure
More than 1,000 workers at AstraZeneca's research base in Loughborough have found new work ahead of its closure later this week.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5faf40/mf.gif' border='0'/><.....
Brisk start to post-Christmas sales, but too late for some
Hordes of bargain-hunters hit the Boxing Day sales, according to property firm Hammerson.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5faf41/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br/><a href="http://da.....
Betfair loses 40m on Leopardstown after 'technical glitch'
More than 40m has been wiped off the value of Betfair since the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown on Wednesday.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5faf42/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br/>.....
US authorities prepare criminal charges over Gulf of Mexico oil spill
BP engineers could face US criminal charges early in the new year over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5faf43/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br/><.....
UK companies to invest 2.5bn in renewables
British companies have announced plans to invest a total of 2.5bn in renewable energy projects, according to the Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5faf44/mf.gif' borde.....
Major Dubai companies 'may need bail-outs'
Some of Dubai's biggest companies will need state-funded bail-outs in 2012 if large-scale defaults are to be avoided, Standard & Poor's (S&P) has warned.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5.....
Plus Markets Group rejects offer for its derivatives unit
Plus Markets Group has rebuffed a takeover approach for its fledgling derivatives business, Plus-DX.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5faf46/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br/><a href.....
Spain's economy worsening, says central bank
The Bank of Spain has warned that the economy has worsened, rattling investor confidence in Europe's fourth biggest economy just as recently installed prime minister Mariano Rajoy prepares to unveil his immediate budget plans.<img width='1' height.....
Italy seeks boost to bail-out fund
Mario Monti has pleaded for the eurozone to expand its "big bazooka" bail-out fund as an expensive Italian bond auction suggested that even last week's flood of cheap loans from the ECB has failed to stem the crisis.<img width='1' height='1' src='.....
US jobs market offers some hope for 2012
The US is ending the year with encouraging signs from its jobs market, which has proved to be the Achilles Heel of the recovery in the world's largest economy.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5fa.....
Eurozone credit crunch fears on M3 money contraction
Europe is at mounting risk of a fresh credit crunch after the eurozone money supply contracted for a second month in November and the volume of private loans began to shrink.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f.....
Italian prime minister Mario Monti urges united response to euro debt crisis as Italy scrapes through bond test
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti urged a united response against the continuing eurozone debt crisis after the embattled eurozone nation scraped through a closely watched bond test.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/.....
US jobs market improves despite rise in benefits claims
New US claims for unemployment benefits rose higher than expected last week, but the underlying trend continued to point to improving conditions in the jobs market.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/.....
Second rallying call for winter fuel campaign
Appeal has so far raised 500,000 from donated winter fuel payments.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5deafd/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/121.....
Alibaba needs all the help it can get to buy Yahoo!
Lots of names have been linked to Yahoo! - Microsoft not least among them - but would-be buyers are hardly clamouring to close a deal.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5dc0ee/mf.gif' border='0'/&g.....
Alexander Dennis withdraws Optare offer
Alexander Dennis, the UK's leading bus manufacturer, has withdrawn a possible offer for rival Optare, leaving the way open for India's Ashok Leyland to take control of the company.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/3.....
Italian bond auction highlights eurozone nation's woes
Signs that Italy faces a tough start to 2012 were evident on Thursday as the country's final bond sale of the year saw nervous investors demand close to 7pc to hold the ailing nation's 10-year debt.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.f.....
Rent-to-buy goods 'can cost double'
Buying household goods from "rent-to-buy" companies can double the cost, Barnardo's warns.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5c95ae/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br/><a href="http://d.....
Euro slides after Italian bond auction falls short of target
The euro fell and stock markets remained cautious after Italian borrowing costs slipped from recent record highs in a debt sale but investors still demanded a near "unsustainable" interest rate to hold 10-year bonds.<img width='1' height='1' src='.....
Angela Merkel's economic adviser Weder di Mauro refuses to rule out eurozone break-up
One of German Chancellor Angela's Merkel's economic advisers, Beatrice Weder di Mauro, has refused to rule out a break-up of the eurozone, in an interview published on Thursday.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/3272.....
China's Alibaba hires US lobbying firm as it eyes buying Yahoo!
Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, has hired a Washington lobbying firm for the first time, in an apparent signal of its intent to buy all of Yahoo! if attempts to untangle the companies' Asian partnership fail.<img width='1' height='1' src='h.....
Low interest rates save home owners from bankruptcy
The number of people becoming insolvent fell this year to its lowest level since the start of the financial crisis.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5ac947/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br.....
Euro jitters continue as markets braced for key Italian bond auction
The euro fell to a decade-low aginst the yen on Thursday, as thin holiday trading magnified the shared currency's weakness ahead of a key Italian bond auction.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568300/s/1b5ac.....
US eyes first BP criminal charges over Gulf oil spill, report
US prosecutors are readying criminal charges against British oil giant BP employees over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident that led to the catastrophic Gulf oil spill, The Wall Street Journal reported.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegr.....
Gaming shares rise as US softens stance on online betting
Online gaming stocks were in demand as dealers got their first chance to react to news that US regulators have softened their stance on some forms of internet gambling.<img width='1' height='1' src='http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/56830.....
