Finance and Business

GM enters bankruptcy protection

2009-06-01T03:13:00.000-07:00

Car giant General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the biggest industrial failure in US corporate history.

Magna is 'very close' to GM deal

2009-05-29T03:13:00.000-07:00

Canadian car parts maker Magna is the preferred bidder for GM Europe, owner of Opel and Vauxhall, Lord Mandelson says.

US begins GM bankruptcy planning

2009-05-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

General Motors and the US Treasury improve the offer to GM's bondholders, as they prepare for the firm's bankruptcy.

GM ponders future as deal fails

2009-05-27T03:13:00.000-07:00

General Motors' battle to avoid bankuptcy suffers a blow as bondholders reject a key part of the carmaker's restructuring plan.

Consumer confidence buoys market

2009-05-26T03:13:00.000-07:00

US shares rise after a survey suggested US consumer confidence was at its highest level since last September.

German firms see optimism ahead

2009-05-25T03:13:00.000-07:00

Firms in Germany are more confident now than they have been for six months, according to a key index.

High costs fuel record loss at BA

2009-05-22T03:13:00.000-07:00

British Airways announces an annual pre-tax loss of £401m, after being hit by the weak pound and higher fuel costs.

Markets fall as growth hopes fade

2009-05-21T03:13:00.001-07:00

Markets worldwide fall after Federal Reserve minutes showed the central bank has lowered its forecast for US growth.

Japan's economy in record plunge

2009-05-20T03:13:00.001-07:00

Japan's economy in the first three months of 2009 shrinks at its quickest pace since records began, as exports slump.

Oil above $60 on US economy hopes

2009-05-19T03:13:00.000-07:00

Oil prices rise above $60 a barrel - with analysts pointing to renewed hopes of a recovery in the US economy.

Indian stocks surge on election

2009-05-18T03:13:00.001-07:00

Indian stocks rise more than 17% after the Congress party wins a surprisingly decisive victory in national elections.

Eurozone economies contract 2.5%

2009-05-15T03:13:00.001-07:00

The economy of the eurozone declined by 2.5% in the three months of 2009, the EU's statistics agency says.

Sony sees first loss in 14 years

2009-05-14T03:13:00.001-07:00

Japanese electronics giant Sony reports its first annual loss in 14 years, after being hit by a big drop in sales.

EU slaps a record fine on Intel

2009-05-13T03:13:00.001-07:00

Chipmaker Intel is fined a record 1.06bn euros ($1.45bn; £948m) by the European Commission for anti-competitive practices.

Hitachi posts record annual loss

2009-05-12T03:13:00.001-07:00

Electronics maker Hitachi reports a record annual loss by a Japanese manufacturer, after a drop in demand for its products.

Centrica in British Energy deal

2009-05-11T03:13:00.001-07:00

British Gas owner Centrica says it is buying a 20% stake in nuclear firm British Energy for £2.3bn, less than initially planned.

Ten US banks fail 'stress tests'

2009-05-08T03:13:00.001-07:00

Ten US banks need a combined $74.6bn (£50bn) of extra funds to boost their cash reserves, the government says.

US banks 'safe from insolvency'

2009-05-07T03:13:00.001-07:00

No US bank being examined by regulators is at risk of insolvency, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says.

Judge paves way for Chrysler deal

2009-05-06T03:13:00.001-07:00

The judge overseeing the bankruptcy of Chrysler rejects efforts to halt the sale of the ailing automaker to Italian Fiat.

UBS cautious as losses stack up

2009-05-05T03:13:00.001-07:00

UBS confirms a quarterly net loss of 2bn Swiss francs and says it remains cautious as the economy continues to deteriorate.

Fiat could buy Vauxhall and Opel

2009-05-04T03:13:00.001-07:00

Italy's Fiat is in talks to buy the European business of General Motors - which includes Vauxhall and Opel.

Lenders object to Chrysler plan

2009-05-01T03:13:00.000-07:00

A group representing 20 debt holders in Chrysler is set to object to the firm's Chapter 11 bankruptcy move.

Chrysler approaches key deadline

2009-04-30T03:13:00.000-07:00

Restructuring efforts continue as Chrysler is just hours away from a deadline that could force it to file for bankruptcy protection.

Societe Generale chairman resigns

2009-04-29T03:13:00.000-07:00

Societe Generale's chairman Daniel Bouton resigns, saying the personal attacks against him risked "harming the bank".

Flu continues to weigh on markets

2009-04-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

Global shares fall further in Tuesday trading as the swine flu outbreak continues to weigh on global markets.