Thursday 08.00 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.

... Off. � Markets tumble after unexpected China figures � China factory activity falls for first time in 7 months � Stop picking on UK companies - SSE � Head of Waitrose Mark Price refuses to meet me.

The route has been axed after the Exeter-based company sold its runway slots at Gatwick Airport. Some of the company's Gatwick slots have been sold to Easyjet.

Behind closed doors at the fund's Washington headquarters, Mr Osborne challenged Olivier Blanchard, IMF chief economist, about the Frenchman's comments that Britain was �playing with fire� over its austerity drive, setting up a battle over the impending IMF ...

The pound slammed into reverse on Wednesday as a sharp fall in high street sales dented hopes Britain is on the road to a steady recovery.

File photo dated 21/07/11 of an SSE Training Centre in Perth as energy group SSE today said it will increase tariffs by 9% on average in a move impacting around 5 million electricity customers and 3.4 million gas customers.

The boss of Britain's biggest building society says a government scheme could make it even harder for first-time buyers to bag a home.

Eighteen people are to lose their jobs at Britvic in Belfast, after the soft drinks company announced it was to close its factory.

Full consent has been given for a 40MW farm off the north-west coast of Lewis - enough to power nearly 30,000 homes. Wave energy firm Aquamarine Power said it would begin installing its Oyster devices in the next few years, once grid infrastructure is put in ...

There were 55 beaches deemed to have a water quality good enough to be given a flag this year, compared to 79 last year. For 2013, beaches had to meet a new �excellent� standard imposed by the EU under the EU Bathing Waters Directive.