A £20bn government scheme to try to boost bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses is launched by the chancellor.

The Australian senate pushes through into law a 30% tax on iron ore and coal mining companies.

China raises the price of petrol by about 6% and diesel about 7% for the second time in 2012, as it seeks to off-set the rising cost of crude oil.

Chancellor George Osborne is to set out plans in the Budget to give 20 million taxpayers a detailed breakdown of how their taxes are spent.

China and the Inter-American Development Bank announce plans for a $1bn (£630m) fund for Latin American markets.

Sales at Debenhams rose slightly in the past six months, helped by "resilient" trading since the turn of the year, the retailer says.

A senior executive of one of Asia's biggest property developers, Sun Hung Kai Properties in Hong Kong, is arrested over allegations of suspected bribery.

Walt Disney expects to lose $200m (£126m) on its movie John Carter, making it one of the biggest flops in cinema history.