The plunge in global financial markets yesterday came as a timely reminder of how dependent this spring's bull run is on central banks' cheap money.

Mothercare is crawling towards a recovery as chief executive Simon Calver insisted the UK company was on target to break even within two years.

Global investors grew skittish on Thursday as concerns about reduced central bank easing and slower growth in China rattled Japan and other markets that have registered large gains this year on the back of loose monetary policies.

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 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 newspaper will become part of a new �Professional� unit in a yet-to-be-decided structure that mean will FT Group ceases to exist as a separate business.

Pre-tax profits were �97m in the six months to the end of March, compared with �37m last year. Total turnover was flat year-on-year at �866m.

ONSHORE wind, the cheapest form of renewable energy, attracts many enthusiasts. Those who live close to planned wind farms are rarely among them.

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 ...

Tesco revealed that it paid �3m to two outgoing directors as executives lost out on their bonuses after the worst slump in profits in the company's history.