A steep drop in transport costs, particularly air fares which declined 6.4pc between March and April, led the fall - the first in seven months.

Vodafone has recorded its first ever fall in annual revenues as the recession in southern Europe saw its takings there fall by almost 17%.

Nick Buckles has unexpectedly quit as chief executive of G4S, the company responsible for the botched handling of security at last year's Olympics.

By James Davey. LONDON | Tue May 21, 2013 10:35am BST. LONDON (Reuters) - British retailer Marks & Spencer posted its lowest annual profit since 2009 on Tuesday, hit by a drop in clothing sales, and said growth this financial year would be held back ...

By Conor Humphries. DUBLIN | Tue May 21, 2013 9:59am BST. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland said on Tuesday it was not to blame for Apple Inc's low global tax payments after the U.S.

By Francesco Canepa. LONDON | Tue May 21, 2013 9:53am BST. LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 steadied at near-13-year highs early on Tuesday, as rallies in outsourcing companies Capita and G4S offset a sharp fall in cruise operator Carnival ...

Yahoo Inc. lured Marissa Mayer from Google in July to become its fifth CEO in as many years. Her task: Help the Internet pioneer regain its stature after years in a financial funk.

Rocketing growth in China helped annual sales at Burberry hit �2bn for the first time as the British luxury goods group banks on the giant Asian economy and Latin America for further growth.

Local Business Week (LBW) drew to a close on Sunday, leaving in its wake several interesting points to consider about the future of the British high street and its thousands of butchers, bakers, candlestick makers - and countless other small businesses.

LONDON - London shares opened higher on Tuesday, lifted by strong mining stocks, after the benchmark FTSE 100 index reached its best level since September 2000 on Monday.