... Off. � European markets up in early trading on Friday � Japanese market swings widely in volatile trade � Europe needs Britain, says ECB president Mario Draghi � FTSE 100 suffers heaviest drop for a year � HSBC's $1.9bn money laundering settlement ...

By Toni Vorobyova. LONDON | Fri May 24, 2013 9:03am BST. LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 steadied on Friday after their steepest fall in a year in the previous session, with central bankers offering some reassurance that stimulus will stay for a while yet.

A Guernsey airline is considering using bigger planes after becoming the only operator to fly to Gatwick. The Treasury and Resources Department is the sole shareholder in Aurigny and said it is considering leasing or buying aircraft outright.

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

A day after the International Monetary Fund urged the government to do more to spur growth, Britain's official statisticians have reminded economists of just how far the UK economy remains from full health.

Two key lieutenants of Tesco boss Phil Clarke received almost �3million in 'damages' following their departure from Britain's biggest retailer at the height of its troubles.

JPMorgan's UK wealth management business has been fined nearly �3.1m for failing to keep complete and up-to-date client files, a shortcoming that put customers at risk of receiving unsuitable investment advice.

Cash and carry group Booker has benefited from the horsemeat scandal as more caterers have turned away from processed meats and started making meals from scratch, according to the company.

United Utilities has reported a rise in its revenues and pre-tax profits - further buoying its shares after last week's bid for neighbouring water company Severn Trent pushed their price up 18 per cent.

When it comes to beer stocks, investors should splurge for a taste of the exotic. Consider SABMiller, which reported Thursday a healthy 12% rise in adjusted earnings during the year through March.