The former chancellor of the exchequer, Lord Lawson, calls for the UK to leave the EU, saying its economic gain 'would outweigh the costs'.

Dock workers in Hong Kong end a 40-day strike affecting one of the world's busiest ports.

Staff at some of the UK's largest post offices are taking industrial action in a growing dispute over closures, franchising, jobs and pay.

Japan's Nikkei index surged on Tuesday, rising above the 14,000 mark for the first time since June 2008.

Australia's central bank lowers its benchmark interest rate to 2.75% from 3%, in an attempt to counter slowing growth in the country's mining sector.

France's second biggest bank, Societe Generale, tells CNBC it is considering cutting up to 700 jobs as it reports a 50% fall in first-quarter earnings.

Paul Walsh, chief executive of the Guinness and Johnnie Walker drinks giant Diageo, is to step down, the company announces.

HSBC almost doubles pre-tax profits to $8.4bn (£5.4bn) in the first three months of 2013 after trading conditions in the bank's key markets improve.