Oil price goes below $50 a barrel
Oil prices fall below $50 a barrel amid growing fears over a global recession and lower demand for oil.
RBS boss apologises over losses
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) chairman, Sir Tom McKillop, says he is "profoundly sorry" for the bank's financial difficulties.
No agreement for US car bail-out
US carmakers are given a deadline to produce a viable recovery plan if they want a $25bn government bail-out.
Recession fears hit Wall Street
Wall Street shares fall steeply for the second day in a row, amid investors' growing fears of a protracted economic downturn.
Retail sales bring scant comfort
Sales on the UK's High Streets fell by a lower-than-expected 0.1% in October, Office for National Statistics figures show.
Rolls-Royce plans 2,000 job cuts
Aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce says it plans to cut between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs in 2009, including 140 in the UK.
Revenue in new offshore tax trawl
Offshore tax dodgers will be facing a second round of investigations by HM Revenue & Customs next year.
Santander snubs UK shareholders
The giant Spanish bank Santander has excluded 1.8 million UK shareholders from taking part in a new share issue.
Mothercare sees its profit double
Baby goods retailer Mothercare says it is well-placed for Christmas as strong growth in its international and online business helps boost profits.
British teenagers remain optimistic about jobs in face of downturn
Most young people are confident of finding a job despite the economic downturn, a survey finds.
Shop till you prop up the economy, Taiwan residents told
Taiwan's prime minister announces a cash handout for all residents in a bid to try to stave off economic crisis.
Aid request
The CBI wants the chancellor to help small firms
Present worries
Concerns over Christmas gifts' safety
Broke, not dim
Some carmakers struggle while others grow
Robert Peston
Sorry - but that's not going to be the end of it
Discount delight
Boost for budget supermarkets as slowdown deepens
Douglas Fraser
Future of Scotland's newspapers not black or white
UK October budget deficit widens
The UK's public sector net borrowing widened by £1.4bn in October ahead of the pre-Budget report, official figures show.
Bankers 'scrap' HBOS campaign
The two leading bankers who had hoped to stop Lloyds TSB taking over HBOS appear to have abandoned their plan.
Russia pushes Ukraine on gas debt
Russia demands Ukraine to repay a $2.4bn gas debt, raising fears of a renewed dispute which could disrupt supplies to Europe.
Peugeot Citroen cuts 2,700 jobs
French car company Peugeot Citroen announces plans to shed 2,700 jobs because of falling demand in Europe.
Latvia to seek support from IMF
Latvia becomes the second European Union country to seek the International Monetary Fund's help to stabilise its financial system.
UK borrowing rise 'is necessary'
The government says it is "right to increase borrowing" as figures show public debt rose by £1.4bn last month.
Gangmaster has licence revoked
A gangmaster at the centre of the biggest human trafficking raid by police in the UK has had its licence revoked.
EU reaches deal on farm reforms
EU ministers agree to reform farm policy by moving more subsidies away from production and liberalising the dairy market.
Mortgage lending picks up
Mortgage lending rose by nearly 7% between September and October, figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show.
Downturn hits newspaper profits
The Daily Mail's publisher reports a 9% fall in full-year profit, while competitors announce a pay freeze and job cuts.
National Grid profit rises in US
UK utility National Grid reports a 4% rise in half-year profit and gave a positive forecast.
Downturn halts £500m project
The future of a £500m development to transform a 150-acre site in Falkirk and create 5,000 new jobs is in doubt.
Putin vows to prevent 'collapse'
Russia's prime minister vows to prevent another financial "collapse" in the country, referring to the crises in the 1990s.
Microsoft ends Yahoo buyout talks
Microsoft's boss tells the firm's annual general meeting that it is no longer looking to buy Yahoo.
House sales rise as prices fall
Property sales rose slightly in October, for the second month in a row, the National Association of Estate Agents says.
Premium Bond prize fund is cut
The number of Premium Bond prizes is being reduced following the recent cut in the Bank rate to 3%.
Bank hints at further rate cuts
Expectations of another rate cut rise after the release of minutes from the Bank of England meeting which slashed rates to 3%.
Consumer inflation falls to 4.5%
Official figures show that UK inflation fell from 5.2% to 4.5% in October, as oil prices and transport costs fell.
IMF approves $2.1bn Iceland loan
The International Monetary Fund approves a $2.1bn (£1.4bn) loan for Iceland, after its banking system collapsed in October.
China fears grow over job losses
Beijing says its employment outlook is "grim", amid concerns of increasing social unrest caused by economic problems.
Colombian scam suspect extradited
Panama extradites a Colombian suspected of running the country's biggest pyramid finance scheme.
Coal power plan for nuclear site
A new coal-burning power plant is being planned for the site of Hunterston nuclear power station.
Dell sees quarterly profits slip
US computer maker Dell sees its quarterly profits fall as customers around the world buy fewer computers.
AstraZeneca axes jobs and plants
Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca says it will cut 1,400 jobs by 2013 and close three European factories in a cost-cutting effort.
US car bail-out solution sought
US politicians are looking for a compromise plan to aid the country's crisis-ridden car industry.
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