Eurozone leaders agree to set up a bail-out fund for the euro of 500bn euros - almost double the current amount provided.

A planned $8bn-merger between stock market firms in Australia and Singapore may be moving closer as talks start again.

Chinese inflation remains high in January at 4.9% despite interest rate increases and driven by rising food prices.

Japan's economic outlook is more positive and it is gradually emerging from a slowdown, the Bank of Japan says.

Banking group Barclays reports profits of £6.07bn for 2010, slightly higher than analysts were expecting.

The French and German economies grew by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively in the fourth quarter, slightly lower than expected.

BBC Radio 5 live learns that the sale of fake alcohol produced by organised gangs is costing the government £1bn a year in lost revenue.

UK supermarket group Morrisons buys baby goods website Kiddicare for £70m as it seeks to develop an online presence.