NEW YORK | Thu May 23, 2013 9:40am EDT. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell at the open on Thursday, putting the S&P 500 on track for its first back-to-back daily drop in a month, on concerns the U.S.

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.

LONDON�Weak wage growth, rising prices and economic uncertainty are keeping U.K. consumers from spending their cash, according to data released Thursday, raising concerns about the prospects for retailers and the wider economy this year.

Cutting the number of its high street stores helped Mothercare narrow losses in its UK division as the retailer attempted to yank its struggling home market into profitability by 2015.

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 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 ...

United Utilities 787p +6p. Questor says HOLD. United Utilities Group. Shares in North West England water group United Utilities are within a whisker of their all time high of 789p seen in December 2006.

LONDON--The U.K. government risks an over reliance on natural gas as a future power source and should invest instead in low-carbon technologies, said the influential Committee on Climate Change Thursday.

By Neil Maidment. LONDON | Thu May 23, 2013 7:19am EDT. LONDON (Reuters) - Cycles-to-car-parts retailer Halfords (HFD.L) has cut its dividend by a third to help fund a multi-million pound investment program, warning this would keep earnings below last ...

By Philip Blenkinsop. BRUSSELS | Thu May 23, 2013 11:22am BST. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - SABMiller (SAB.L), the world's second-biggest brewer, forecast margin expansion in the year ahead after profit grew in line with expectations thanks to a surge in ...