Spain will unveil a raft of austerity measures later as part of its annual budget as it tries to keep within stringent deficit targets.

Japan's industrial output unexpectedly fell in February, due to lower overseas demand for cars and electronic goods, figures show.

Japan's government agrees on a bill to double sales tax by 2015 to cut debt and prepares to submit it to parliament.

Shares in Sun Hung Kai Properties fall sharply in Hong Kong after the arrest of its joint chairmen on suspicion of bribery.

Demand for petrol rose 172% on Thursday amid fears of a fuel tanker drivers' strike, while diesel was up 77%, says independent retailers' group RMI Petrol.

German retail sales fell in February for the second month in a row, denting hopes that consumer spending will support the economy in the first quarter.

The government announces it has accepted "virtually all" the recommendations from Mary Portas in its bid to rejuvenate UK High Streets.

Doctors will vote on industrial action in May, if talks over planned changes to their pensions do not resume, the British Medical Association says.