By Toni Vorobyova. LONDON | Thu May 23, 2013 11:51am BST. LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 slid from 13-year peaks on Thursday, battered by weak Chinese economic data and signs the U.S.

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.

Thursday 10.30 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 company sold its slots at the London airport to Easyjet for �20m, blaming an increase in airport charges. Flybe operates three flights a day from the resort to London Gatwick.

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 ...

Thu May 23, 2013 7:07am EDT. * Pretax profit falls 22 pct to 72 mln stg. * Unveils 100 mln-stg plan to invest in retail business. * Cuts dividend, profits to be hit until 2016.

Ford is to cease production in Australia by 2016 and cut about 1,200 jobs - almost half its local workforce - after concluding the business case for producing vehicles locally �did not stack up�.

China's manufacturing is contracting in May for the first time in seven months, adding to signs that economic growth is losing steam for a second quarter.

Mothercare's UK business is still mired in the red despite attempts to improve its finances with a swingeing store closure plan.

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 ...