Japanese stocks rallied further despite concerns Greece may be forced to leave the eurozone should it fail to negotiate a new bailout deal.

Eurozone finance ministers are set for a crunch meeting in Brussels to consider a proposal by Greece to extend its European loan programme.

BP loses its bid to reduce the maximum civil fine of $13.7bn (£8.9bn) it could face for its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Millions of pounds of private parking penalty charges could have been imposed illegally, the RAC Foundation motoring charity says.

London's leading shares dip as efforts continue in Brussels to resolve the crisis over Greece's bail-out, but Standard Life sees gains after reporting a big rise in profits.

UK government finances showed a surplus of £8.8bn in January, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.

UK retail sales fell 0.3% in January from the previous month, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Eurozone business activity has reached a seven-month high, prompting companies to take on more staff, a closely watched survey indicates.