General Motors and Chrysler announce plans to each hire 1,000 staff, but Fed chairman Ben Bernanke warns about high US unemployment rate.

Top pay in the public sector should not normally be more than 20 times that of the lowest paid worker in any public body, the government has been advised.

The euro remains near 11-month lows against the US dollar as European debt concerns continue to focus on Portugal.

House prices fell again in November, dropping by 0.3%, according to the latest survey by the Nationwide building society.

Australia's economic growth slowed between July and September as the high value of its currency hit export earnings.

Tour operator Thomas Cook reports a fall in full-year profits after tough economic conditions hit summer trading.

Customers who lost money when a Cornish-based currency firm went bust vowed they are not going to "go away".

China's manufacturing picked up in November, state figures suggest, with strong domestic demand offsetting weakness elsewhere.