Energy giant Centrica said mild spring and autumn weather had fuelled a 30% slide in profits at its residential arm British Gas to £522 million last year.

Germany's Commerzbank has recorded a fourth-quarter profit of 316 million euro (£267 million) after the bank cut costs and had fewer bad loans.

Flawed economic arguments against tackling climate change are being used to slow the move to low-carbon growth, a leading economist has warned.

Asian stock markets were mostly lower as investors fretted over the details of a deal to save Greece from financial collapse and preserve its place among nations that use the euro.

Mazda stock dived nearly 7% after the struggling car maker said it will raise about two billion US dollars from selling new shares to invest in assembly plants and developing new vehicle technologies.

David Cameron is to take on growing "snobbish attitudes" towards money-makers as he argues business is the best way to "smash poverty".

Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland has revealed total losses of £2 billion in 2011, compared with £1.1 billion in 2010.

A day after the Dow hit 13,000, investors took a break.

Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland is set to reignite the debate over bankers' pay as it unveils a £400 million bonus pool for its investment bankers in 2011.

More than 3,000 jobs are to go after ailing fashion chain Peacocks was sold out of administration.

A 25% slide in the size of the UK's DIY market since its pre-recession peak in 2007 has left its mark on profits at Wickes.

Nearly £2 billion of compensation payments were made last year to settle claims from the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI).