Marks and Spencer cuts 1,000 jobs
6/1/2009 external link
Marks and Spencer will announce on Wednesday that it is cutting 1,000 jobs from its workforce of 70,000, the BBC confirms.
Sales fall at Next and Debenhams
6/1/2009 external link
Next and Debenhams see sales fall over the Christmas period, as a survey puts UK consumer confidence at a new low.
German billionaire kills himself
6/1/2009 external link
German billionaire Adolf Merckle commits suicide after his business empire runs into trouble in the global economic slowdown.
Toyota shuts plants for 11 days
6/1/2009 external link
Toyota announces that it is to halt production at its domestic plants for 11 days in February and March.
Final Woolworths stores shut down
6/1/2009 external link
The remaining 200 Woolworths stores across the UK close their doors after the High Street chain's final day of trading.
Aer Lingus cool on Ryanair offer
6/1/2009 external link
Shareholders in Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus show little appetite for a Ryanair takeover.
Porsche takes majority VW stake
6/1/2009 external link
German luxury carmaker Porsche announces that it now holds more than 50% of Volkswagen's shares.
French TV ditches prime-time ads
5/1/2009 external link
State-run French TV stations stop showing ads in prime time as part of President Sarkozy's plans to reform public broadcasting.
Areva wins Niger uranium licence
6/1/2009 external link
French nuclear energy group Areva is awarded a licence to build and operate a uranium mine in Niger.
Wedgwood in administration
5/1/2009 external link
A number of firms owned by Waterford Wedgwood enter administration, as the parent firm appoints a receiver.
Caterpillar stops for four weeks
5/1/2009 external link
Construction industry firm Caterpillar will stop production in Leicestershire for four weeks due to a drop in orders.
Adams shuts down 111 shops
5/1/2009 external link
Adams Childrenswear closes 111 of its 271 stores in the UK, five days after calling in the administrators.
Apple's Jobs admits poor health
5/1/2009 external link
Steve Jobs, head of Apple, has disclosed in a statement that he is being treated for a hormone imbalance.
Gas price cuts 'likely in spring'
5/1/2009 external link
Scottish Power raises hopes that energy bills will fall after it cut prices - with rivals expected to follow suit.
Mortgage rationing gets tougher
5/1/2009 external link
Mortgage lenders are continuing to demand larger deposits as they ration home loans to their customers.
Japanese car sales plunge 22%
5/1/2009 external link
Vehicle sales in Japan fell 22% in December compared with the same month in 2007, making it the worst December on record.
EU plays down impact of gas row
5/1/2009 external link
Russia and Ukraine's row over gas has not had a major knock-on effect to European supplies, the EU says.
Perfume seller in administration
5/1/2009 external link
Retailer Passion for Perfume becomes the latest high street victim of the economic slowdown.
BBC acts over light-skinned doll
5/1/2009 external link
The BBC is to replace a doll based on a character from CBeebies show In the Night Garden after complaints it is too light-skinned.
Investor warning on Bellway
4/1/2009 external link
Housebuilder Bellway looks set to clash with investors after a shareholder watchdog raised concerns over bonuses.
Austria to run Madoff-hit bank
2/1/2009 external link
Austria takes control of Bank Medici after the private bank was hit by the Bernard Madoff investment scandal.
Madoff's million-dollar mailings prompt court outrage
6/1/2009 external link
US prosecutors call for Bernard Madoff to be put in prison until his trial after it emerges he sent jewellery and watches to friends and family.
Air India sacks overweight stewardesses
6/1/2009 external link
India's state-run carrier Air India dismisses nine hostesses who had earlier been grounded for being overweight.
