Continual Solutions News

Trade gap widens unexpectedly
The UK goods trade deficit with the rest of the world widens in January, causing the pound to dip below $1.50.

Aer Lingus to make 670 job cuts
Aer Lingus announces plans to lay off 670 staff, including nearly a quarter of its cabin crew, as part of restructuring plans.

Payment protection rules delayed
The Financial Services Authority is delaying its plans to combat the mis-selling of payment protection insurance.

BA strike talks deadline extended
Talks aimed averting strike action by BA cabin crew have been extended by an extra half day to Wednesday lunchtime.

EU concern over end of tanker bid
Brussels says it hopes European aerospace group EADS was not prevented from fairly bidding for a major US defence deal.

M&S boss says he expects pay cut
Marks and Spencer's chairman and chief executive will reduce his role in the company this year - and says he will take a pay cut.

Npower will cut gas bills by 7%
Energy company Npower is to cut domestic gas bills by 7% from 26 March, following price cuts by other suppliers.

House price rises 'to ease off'
Further rises in house prices may be held back by more properties coming onto the market, surveyors have said.

Merkel seeking speculator limits
German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls for limits on financial speculators who have been blamed for worsening Greece's financial woes.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz snaps up debt rescue deal
Photographer Annie Leibovitz does a deal with Colony Capital to clear huge debts that meant she may have lost her library of famous pictures.

Out of tune: Elgar £20 note to be phased out
The £20 note featuring composer Sir Edward Elgar is to be withdrawn from circulation by the Bank of England in June.

Final call
Brendan Barber on pension scheme closures

Fuel fighters
Boeing wins lucrative mid-air refuelling battle

Stephanomics
We can't devalue our way out of trouble after all

Robert Peston
Is it time to protect bidders from their own greed?

Cost cutters
Paying when companies shed pensions liabilities

Haiti challenge
Rebuilding a devastated economy

Chevron looks for refinery buyer
The Chevron oil firm is looking for bids for a refinery that directly employs around 1,400 people in Pembrokeshire.

Retail sales rebound in February
Retail sales bounced back in February after a tough January on the High Street, the latest figures show.

Eurotunnel makes profit in 2009
Eurotunnel, which manages the Channel Tunnel, makes an annual profit of 1.4m euros despite a "poor economic environment".

Legoland firm sees more visitors
Madam Tussauds, Sea Life and London Eye owners, Merlin, weathers the downturn with visitor growth and expansion plans.

Greece asks US for its assistance
Greece's prime minister asks the US to crack down on speculators he blames for worsening his country's debt woes.

Deal agreed in Royal Mail dispute
A deal is reached in the long-running dispute at Royal Mail over modernising the postal service which led to strikes last year.

Toyota rejects electronics fears
Toyota rejects claims that faulty electronics could be behind its worldwide recall of more than eight million cars.

Complaint made over Kraft claims
The Takeover Panel receives a complaint over assurances given by Kraft that it would save a Cadbury plant it is now closing.

E.On is latest to cut gas prices
E.on says it will cut gas bills by 6% from 31 March, saving almost two million customers an average of £42 a year.

Brussels to mull 'European IMF'
Europe may set up a version of the International Monetary Fund to bolster the eurozone's financial stability.

'Sharp cut' in pensions deficit
A sharp cut has been reported in the deficit of final salary pension schemes in the private sector, figures show.

'Low morale' hits tax authority
Low morale and poor leadership is affecting performance at HM Revenue and Customs, a report by MPs says.

Mortgages 'more easily available'
The number of mortgage deals on offer to borrowers rose by 6% in the past month, according to Moneyfacts.

Business bodies urge faster cuts
The CBI wants the Budget to deliver plans to balance public finances by 2016 - two years earlier than currently planned.

Internet access 'a human right'
Almost four in five people worldwide see internet access as a fundamental right, a poll for the BBC World Service suggests.

Portugal unveils austerity plans
Portugal announces a series of new austerity measures as it seeks to avoid a debt crisis like the one in Greece.

Sony eyeing June launch of 3D TV
Electronics giant Sony says its new 3D television will be on sale in Japan from June, with a cost of £2,600 for a 46-inch screen model.

AIG selling second overseas unit
AIG sells an insurance group to rival MetLife for $15.5bn, as it continues to raise funds to pay off a federal bail-out.

Aer Lingus delays profit figures
Aer Lingus, the Irish airline, has delayed plans to unveil its results Tuesday after cabin crew rejected a cost-cutting proposal.

Car sales see continued recovery
UK car sales in February were up by 26.4% compared with the same month last year, industry figures show.

Ford outsells GM after sales jump
Ford reports a jump in US sales of 43% last month, selling more cars than its great rival General Motors, as Toyota sales slip.

No guarantee on 2012 lottery cash
The Olympic Delivery Authority says it cannot guarantee all National Lottery money used for London 2012 will be returned.

West Brom to support Chile appeal
West Brom's shirts will feature a "Help Chile" logo for the home game with Sheffield Wednesday.

Guidelines for financial journalists