HONG KONG--Hong Kong shares fell the most in almost two months, as a plunge in Japanese stocks spooked regional investors. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index fell 591.40 points, or 2.5%, to 22,669.68, its steepest decline since falling 2.7% on April 5.

Thursday 09.10 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.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde has arrived at a court in Paris for questioning over a payout to a controversial tycoon during her time as finance minister.

Mark Carney, says the UK is a "crisis economy" as it struggles to emerge from the global recession and the IMF says George Osborne needs to change tack.

Speaking after he delivered the annual British Retail Consortium lecture, Tim Steiner said the reaction of Waitrose to Ocado's tie-up with Morrisons has been a �joke�.