West Texas Intermediate oil fell for a third day as Chinese manufacturing contracted and speculation mounted that the Federal Reserve will cut bond purchases.

The group's total pre-tax loss fell to �21.5m in the year to March 30, from �102.9m a year ago when it was hit by a �55m impairment charge related to its acquisition of the Early Learning Centre.

Thursday 14.30 BST. Global stocks are in sharp retreat, led by a savage plunge in Tokyo, as traders are spooked by the prospect of reduced central bank support and a slowing Chinese economy.

The updated figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the UK's dominant services sector, which accounts for three quarters of national output, drove the recovery - growing 0.6pc over the three months.

The boss of Flybe has hit out at "punitive" charges and taxes that have pushed the troubled regional airline to end flights in and out of London from next March.

The new regulator said the unit was unable to show it was giving clients the right advice. "Although no detriment to customers has been identified to date, the failings exposed customers to the risk that they would be given incorrect advice and inappropriate ...

SABMiller, the world's number two brewer, lifted group revenues 7 per cent to $34.5bn in the year to March 31, despite an outburst of social unrest in Colombia that prompted the government to curb trading hours in bars.

The eurozone is likely to remain in recession in the second quarter, a business survey showed on Thursday, with output in both France and Germany, the two biggest economies, still shrinking.

The benefits of UK investment in renewable power that will add �100 a year to household energy bills are in jeopardy and should be bolstered with an approach that would add a further �20, the government's climate watchdog has said.

The veteran investor's private equity fund Quantum Strategic Partners has backed the infrastructure effort. Hyperoptic is extending its fibre optic cables all the way into homes, allowing it to provide internet access at one gigabit per second, more than 10 times ...