Prices paid for UK homes by first-time buyers in January were 2% higher than a year earlier, official figures show.

Banking giant HSBC, which was hit with a US fine for money laundering last year, is facing fresh accusations of illegal activity in Argentina.

India cuts its main interest rate for the second time in three months as it looks to revive its sluggish economic growth.

The supermarket chain Sainsbury's reports higher sales for the year to the end of March and record customer numbers.

Planning permission is expected to be given later for French firm EDF Energy to build the first new nuclear power plant in the UK for generations - at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Some parents in the UK will be able to claim back up to £1,200 a year for each child - or 20% of childcare costs - from 2015, under government plans.

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, is to sell travel guide business Lonely Planet to US media company NC2.

Ryanair is planning to increase its aircraft fleet by a third to 400 planes after ordering 175 planes from Boeing.