The British Chambers of Commerce slashes its forecast for economic growth this year, to just 0.1%, and calls for more action to help businesses.

Activity in China's biggest and mainly state-owned factories hits the lowest point this year due to weak domestic demand.

BP plans to divorce its Russian oligarch partners by selling its stake in the massively lucrative TNK-BP joint venture.

Entertainment venue Hammersmith Apollo which has held concerts by bands from The Beatles to Queen, is sold by its owner HMV.

The UK's manufacturing sector contracted at its fastest pace for three years in May, according to a closely-watched survey.

The rate of contraction in Spain's manufacturing sector was worse than that of Greece in May, an influential business survey suggests.

Early indications suggest voters in the Republic of Ireland have approved the EU fiscal pact in a referendum.

Unemployment in the eurozone was 11% in April, unchanged from March, but still the highest since the bloc was formed, official figures show.