Two major US department store chains, JC Penney and Macy's, announce plans to close stores and cut thousands of jobs.

Stocks in Asia are boosted again on Friday, after US markets moved higher on expectations of positive US jobs data due out later.

China's consumer inflation rate rises 1.5% in December from a year earlier, below the government's target of 3.5%, and sticking at a near five-year low.

Drinks giant Coca-Cola is set to cut up to 1,800 jobs worldwide as it continues cost-cutting efforts.

The company which became the first private firm to manage an NHS hospital says it is looking to "withdraw from its current contract".

Shares in Circle Holdings plunge after it says it is pulling out of the contract to run Hinchingbrooke hospital.

German exports and production fall in November, against a backdrop of slow German economic recovery in the European powerhouse.

The falling price of oil helped to narrow the UK's trade gap with the rest of the world in November to its lowest since June 2013, figures show.