Downturn 'fuels unpaid overtime'
The economic downturn is helping to drive record levels of unpaid overtime by workers fearing for their jobs, the TUC claims.

M&S boss: 'I won't take pay rise'
Marks and Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose says he won't take a pay rise this year after cutting 1,230 jobs at the chain.

Pound regains ground against euro
The pound reaches its highest level against the euro for three weeks, ahead of Thursday's UK interest rates announcement.

Oil prices drop as US stocks rise
Oil prices fall sharply as US crude oil stocks soar amid evidence of continuing weakening energy demand by consumers.

Warning given on tax returns scam
Fraudsters are targeting people with scam e-mails in the run-up to the self-assessment tax returns deadline.

Viyella goes into administration
The clothing firm Viyella, which was founded in 1784, calls in administrators to sell the business.

US deficit 'to hit $1 trillion'
The Congressional Budget Office says the the federal government deficit will exceed $1 trillion next year, the largest on record.

'Faster relief' for bank victims
Savers will receive compensation within seven days if a bank fails, under proposals from the City watchdog.

UK car sales fall to 12-year-low
UK car sales in 2008 are 11.3% lower than they had been in 2007, following a 21.2% drop in December.

Madoff's million-dollar mailings prompt court outrage
US prosecutors call for Bernard Madoff to be put in prison until his trial after it emerges he sent jewellery and watches to friends and family.

Store wars
Northern retailer battles the 'Big Four'

Free future
Why it makes sense to charge customers nothing

Falling interest
Pensioners worried as rate cuts hit income

Layoff payoff
The financial costs of making redundancies

Keen interest
The rates roulette for savers and borrowers

Itching to work
The asylum-seeking accountant living on £35 a week

Firms show interest in Wedgwood
Administrators say there have been 10 expressions of interest in china and glass group Waterford Wedgwood.

Loan firm set to cut 1,000 jobs
Sub-prime lender Cattles plans to cut 1,000 jobs, 20% of its workforce, as it seeks to weather the economic downturn.

Home diners boost takeaway profit
Pizzamaker Domino's and baker Greggs are beneficiaries of the current economic conditions.

Hundreds to lose jobs at Barclays
Hundreds of IT workers for Barclays Bank are expected to lose their jobs following a review, the bank announces.

Downloads boost single sales
The UK singles market grew by 33% in 2008 thanks to a growth in download sales, the BPI says.

India IT boss quits over scandal
The boss of Satyam, India's fourth-biggest software firm, resigns after admitting to irregularities in its accounts.

Apprenticeship boost in downturn
The government is pledging more money to create apprenticeships as part of its efforts to tackle the downturn in the economy.

Germany sees higher jobless total
German unemployment levels rose for the first time in nearly three years in December, according to government figures.

Blacks Leisure in profits alert
Blacks Leisure issues a profits warning after its boardwear business drags down sales in the run-up to Christmas.

Job demand falls at record rate
Demand for staff is falling at a record rate, according to a report by Britain's recruiters.

Record high for videogaming sales
Sales of videogame software and hardware in the UK hit an all time high, figures from the industry trade body show.

India truck strike begins to bite
Prices of fruit and vegetables start to rise in some Indian cities as a nationwide strike by lorry drivers enters a third day.

US recession forecast to drag on
The US recession is likely to drag on well into 2009, according to forecasts from the US Federal Reserve.

Apple to end music restrictions
Apple has announced at Macworld that music on its iTunes store will now be DRM free

Watchdog bans British Gas ads
Adverts for British Gas's home maintenance service are banned by a watchdog after being branded "misleading".

Dispute hits Europe gas supplies
Exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine stop altogether with both countries accusing each other of turning off the tap.

Bank of America in Chinese sale
Bank of America is to sell a stake in China Construction Bank, in an move that could raise $3bn, the Chinese bank says.

German billionaire kills himself
German billionaire Adolf Merckle commits suicide after his business empire runs into trouble in the global economic slowdown.

House prices 'fell 15.9% in 2008'
House prices fell by 15.9% last year, according to the latest survey by the Nationwide building society.

Mortgage rationing gets tougher
Mortgage lenders are continuing to demand larger deposits as they ration home loans to their customers.

State mortgage help widened
The government extends state help for people struggling to make mortgage payments after losing their jobs.

Gas price cuts 'likely in spring'
Scottish Power raises hopes that energy bills will fall after it cut prices - with rivals expected to follow suit.

Euro weakens on rate cut evidence
The euro weakens against the pound and the US dollar as data suggests that a eurozone interest rate cut next week is likely.

Euro inflation hits two-year low
Inflation in the eurozone falls more than expected to 1.6% in December, which is the lowest level for 26 months.

Obama says US economy 'very sick'
US President-elect Barack Obama says that America's economy is very sick and that the situation is worsening.

UK short-selling ban to be lifted
A ban on the short-selling of financial shares is to be lifted, the UK's financial regulator confirms.

Alcoa cuts 13,500 workers' jobs
The US aluminium maker Alcoa has said it is cutting 13,500 jobs, or 13% of its workforce, due to the global economic slowdown.

Sales fall at Next and Debenhams
Next and Debenhams see sales fall over the Christmas period, as a survey puts UK consumer confidence at a new low.

Toyota shuts plants for 11 days
Toyota announces that it is to halt production at its domestic plants for 11 days in February and March.