Entertainment giant Walt Disney reports a sharp rise in profits thanks to higher advertising revenue and the popularity of its theme parks.

The London Stock Exchange says it is in "advanced" merger talks with TMX Group, which operates the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The prospect of university fees rising to £9,000 a year is prompting parents to save more for their children's education, research suggests.

The freezing weather in December resulted in £1.4bn of insurance claims on property and vehicles in the UK, figures show.

Donors from the financial sector gave £11.4m to the Conservatives last year - some 50.8% of all the money the party received.

Shares in Toyota jump nearly 5% after a US inquiry into reports of unintended acceleration finds no electronic flaws in the company's cars.

Social networking site Facebook expands its presence in Asia, opening up an office in Hong Kong.

French carmaker Peugeot Citroen returns to a full-year profit after seeing a strong recovery in 2010.