Business News

BA union announces strike dates
BA cabin crew will go on strike for three days from 20 March and for four days from 27 March in a dispute over pay and staff levels.

Lehman bosses severely criticised
A report into the collapse of US bank Lehman Brothers criticises senior executives and auditor Ernst & Young for serious lapses.

China oil demand is 'astonishing'
Oil demand in China rose by an "astonishing" 28% in January compared with a year ago, the International Energy Agency says.

UK house sales 'slow' in 2010
The number of mortgages agreed with house buyers fell 49% in January from the month before, the Council of Mortgage Lenders says.

China hits back at Obama on yuan
China has hit back at comments by US President Barack Obama that Beijing should change its currency strategy.

New York banking gains on London
New York and London have been ranked as the joint-top global financial centres according to new research.

Fighting poverty
How Malawi hopes social enterprise will help

'No giveaway Budget' says UK
Chancellor Alistair Darling warns people not to expect a "giveaway" when he unveils his Budget later this month.

'No decision yet' on BA strikes
The union representing BA cabin crew says there will be no immediate announcement about strike dates.

HSBC in huge Swiss data theft
About 24,000 clients of HSBC's private banking operation in Switzerland had personal details stolen, the bank admits.

HMRC ready to back Pompey set-up
The validity of Portsmouth's administration will not be challenged by HM Revenue & Customs, the BBC learns.

VW and BMW report lower profits
German carmakers Volkswagen and BMW report falling profits after the global downturn hit demand for cars.

US trade deficit in surprise fall
The US trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly in January as fewer foreign cars and less crude oil were imported.

Red Knights get advisers for bid
The Red Knights group eyeing a possible bid for Manchester United says investment bank Nomura will advise it.

Start young
How to build confidence for later success

Feathers fly: Bank of America sorry for confiscating parrot
Bank of America has apologised to a woman in Pennsylvania after one of its contractors entered her house and confiscated her parrot.

Daihatsu recalling cars in Japan
Carmaker Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota, is recalling 274,551 vehicles in Japan because of a number of possible defects.

Booting up Brazil
Brazil exploits potential as web use spreads

Tough task
Economic challenge for new president in quake-hit Chile

Jazz label joins the DRM-free revolution
Record label Universal Music Classics & Jazz is making its entire catalogue available online without copy protection as part of an experiment to gauge fans' demand for MP3 track...