While 10 big banks began to repay bailout money, 22 other banks received downgraded ratings and FedEx issued a warning.

Mexican and U.S. companies are benefiting from an economy based on ties between their countries.

Inflation in India has turned negative for the first time in more than 30 years, official figures show.

China Eastern Airlines agrees to buy 20 Airbus A320 aircraft, despite having cancelled orders earlier in the year.

Has the US banking reform closed all the gaps?

Pub and brewing firm Marston's says it wants to raise £176m, largely to fund the purchase and building of new pubs.

A debt management firm is told not to publish misleading adverts about people's chances of being able to write off their debts.

In Asia, stocks suffered their fourth straight day of losses amid a growing belief the markets were due for a reality check after the recent surge.

Lockheed's fighter jet is set to corner the market

UK public sector borrowing was the highest on record in May at £19.9bn, the Office for National Statistics says.

Sales in the UK's shops and stores fell by 0.6% in April from May, driven by falls in clothing and footwear.

Plane and car engineering firm GKN says it plans to raise £423m through a rights issue in order to bolster its finances.

Mortgage lending fell back in May, according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Reuters - Dow Jones futures rose 0.1 percent and S&P 500 futures also rose 0.1 percent while Nasdaq futures fell 0.2 percent by 0913 GMT, suggesting a mixed start for U.S. stock markets on Thursday.

Reuters - Massive policy stimulus should keep China growing at a respectable rate this year and next, but a robust recovery is unlikely given global weakness and soft non-government investment, the World Bank said on Thursday.

Reuters - The tortuous question of when ailing steel demand might recover from the global economic downturn is likely to dominate talks at an industry gathering in New York next week.

Reuters - Bailed out U.S. insurer American International Group has chosen Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Morgan Stanley as its joint global coordinators for a more than $4 billion IPO of its Asian life insurance unit, sources said on Thursday.

U.S. computer makers say Beijing has not backed down from requiring Internet filtering software on all machines sold in China after July 1, despite reports that the rule had been relaxed.

The Californians who contributed to Oregon?s growth are in some cases adding to its economic struggle.

The Bank of England governor and the chancellor clash on what needs to be done to control banks and prevent another crisis.

Pilots at British Airways have been asked by their own trade union negotiators to accept a pay cut and work longer hours.

Reuters - Stock index futures were little changed on Thursday ahead of figures for weekly jobless claims and other indicators that investors hoped would show the recovery was gaining traction.

Reuters - Medical device maker Medtronic Inc paid almost $800,000 in consulting fees to a former U.S. Army surgeon accused of fabricating a key study, according to published reports.

AP - The Department of Education says Sallie Mae and three other companies were chosen to service parts of its $550 billion in outstanding federal student loans and future loans owned by the government.

Reuters - Bailed out U.S. insurer American International Group has chosen Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Morgan Stanley as joint global coordinators for the more than $4 billion IPO of its Asian life insurance unit, banking sources said on Thursday.

Reuters - Home furnishings retailer Pier 1 Imports Inc posted a first-quarter profit versus a prior year loss, due to a gain on the repurchase of debt.

The number of people on unemployment insurance rolls fell for the first time since early January, while first-time claims for benefits rose slightly.

Wall Street was flat in early trading as investors kept an eye on testimony by Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner on the proposed overhaul of the financial regulatory system.

A South African judge appoints three trustees to manage the assets of a businessman accused of running a Bernard Madoff-style investment fraud.

The Bank of England governor and the chancellor clash on what needs to be done to control banks and prevent another crisis.

Italian airline Alitalia apologises after its in-flight magazine prints a map leaving off the Mediterranean island of Sicily.

Engineering firm GKN says it plans to raise £423m to help cut debts, and says it is shedding jobs at a faster pace.

Reuters - Stocks opened little changed on Thursday as investors turned cautious after a mixed jobless report and ahead of a report on regional manufacturing activity.

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner urged Congress to move quickly on the Obama administration's regulatory reform proposals, saying that past reform efforts started too late, after the will to act had subsided.

Reuters - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week but the number of people staying on the benefit rolls after collecting an initial week of aid fell for the first time since January, a government report showed on Thursday.

AP - Shares of Sallie Mae soared in premarket activity Thursday after the Department of Education selected the student lender and three other companies to service parts of $550 billion in outstanding federal student loans and future loans owned by the government.

Reuters - Women's apparel retailer and manufacturer Liz Claiborne Inc indicated it expects a wider second-quarter loss than analysts forecast and its shares fell 10 percent.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is urging Congress to act quickly on the plan to overhaul financial regulation.

An Alabama judge has ordered Richard Scrushy to pay about $2.8 billion to shareholders due to accounting fraud at the company.

The number of people on unemployment insurance rolls fell for the first time since early January.

Stocks gained following reports that mortgage rates fell and jobless claims dropped as well.

The Supreme Court threw out an appeals court ruling that would have allowed the retrial of a former executive at Enron?s broadband venture on charges related to financial fraud.

The founder of Kingfisher Airlines had high hopes for it ? but its difficulties show that even doing business in a growing major economy is not without pitfalls.

The US Treasury defends sweeping financial reforms, urging Congress to pass the changes soon.

Reuters - The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 added to gains while the Nasdaq turned positive on Thursday after a reading of business conditions in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region came in much better than expected, suggesting a more stable manufacturing sector.

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner urged Congress to act quickly on the Obama administration's regulatory reform proposals, saying past efforts had started too late after the will to act had faded.

Reuters - More green shoots of recovery sprouted in the U.S. labor market, according to the latest data, while the slumping factory sector showed dramatic signs of improvement and a gauge of the overall economy also jumped.

Reuters - Women's apparel manufacturer and retailer Liz Claiborne Inc on Thursday projected a wider second-quarter loss than analysts forecast, and its shares plummeted 13 percent.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is urging Congress to act quickly on the plan to overhaul financial regulation.

Richard M. Scrushy was ordered to pay about $2.8 billion to shareholders who sued over accounting fraud at the rehabilitation chain.

The HLTH Corporation said it would complete its merger with the health Web site operator, WebMD Corporation, in an all-stock deal valued at about $1.2 billion.

Reuters - Stocks gained on Thursday after a recent small pullback as data on the jobs market and regional manufacturing revived hopes that the recession-hit economy is stabilizing.

Reuters - Senior U.S. lawmakers launched an assault on Thursday on the centerpiece of the Obama administration's financial reform plan -- giving the Federal Reserve new power to police broad risks in the economy.

Reuters - Talks to sell the storied Chicago Cubs baseball team have reopened with a rival bidding group, and are continuing alongside negotiations with the original Ricketts family buyers, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

AP - The Department of Education has selected student lender Sallie Mae and three other companies to service the $550 billion in outstanding federal student loans and future loans owned by the government.

A squabble between Brussels and Britain offers a glimpse of how difficult global regulatory reform is likely to be.

Regulators are considering taking on emergency powers that would allow them to break up large banks to wind down troubled units.

Fred Goodwin took a cut of more than 50 percent after months of public outrage following the government bailout of Royal Bank of Scotland.

Rays of hope from reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims helped shake Wall Street out of its funk.

Airbus?s chief salesman said the the sense of panic that gripped airline executives has subsided.

Reuters - The Dow and the S&P 500 rose on Thursday, breaking a three-day losing streak, as data on the job market and regional manufacturing revived hopes that the recession-hit economy is stabilizing.

The Russian energy company and the American company signed a new deal to reduce their carbon footprints and to trade in carbon credits.

Research In Motion posted a higher quarterly profit but delivered an outlook that may disappoint some investors.

HLTH and WebMD agreed to merge last year but canceled the deal when the economy faltered; now the agreement is to close this year.

RIM, the maker of Blackberry phones, sees profits beat expectations but shares in the firm fall after a downbeat outlook.

Reuters - The Dow and S&P 500 gained on Thursday, breaking a three-day losing streak, as data on the job market and regional manufacturing revived hopes that the recession-hit economy is stabilizing.

Reuters - Research In Motion offered investors an outlook on Thursday that fell short of some expectations, sending the BlackBerry maker's stock sliding 5 percent even as the company reported a higher quarterly profit that topped forecasts.

Reuters - Senior U.S. lawmakers launched an assault on Thursday on the centerpiece of the Obama administration's financial reform plan -- giving the Federal Reserve new powers to police broad risks in the economy.

Research In Motion posted a higher quarterly profit but delivered an outlook that may disappoint some investors.

HLTH and WebMD agreed to merge last year but canceled the deal when the economy faltered; now the agreement is to close this year.

EU ministers agree in principle on a framework for enhanced financial oversight, with the UK winning key concessions.

How Mexican remittances are hit by the slowdown

Stagnation as Cairo's property market is hit

Nearly 900 workers at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire have been sacked, following unofficial strike action at the plant.

Personal data including the signatures of recipients has been exposed to those tracking parcels, the BBC learns.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is urging Congress to act quickly on the plan to overhaul financial rules.

A crackdown on credit limits by card companies is squeezing the nation?s small businesses, exacerbating the problems caused by a stagnant economy.

If companies commit at the outset to use union labor, they say environmental objections never materialize.

The magazine has dropped generic how-to magazine features for inspiring spiritual articles and tales of military life.

Regulators signaled an aggressive approach to the problem of financial institutions whose failure can endanger the whole economy.

Frederick A. Goodwin, who headed the Royal Bank of Scotland when its strategy led to huge losses, took a 50 percent reduction in his retirement pay.

Richard M. Scrushy was ordered to pay about $2.8 billion to shareholders who sued over accounting fraud at the rehabilitation chain.

The Detroit automakers? fleets drew lawmakers? scorn when executives flew to hearings last year.

Stephen Girsky, a former adviser to the automaker, will represent the retiree benefits association that will have a stake in the new G.M.

Airbus?s chief salesman said the the sense of panic that gripped airline executives has subsided.

Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford has surrendered to the US authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest, reports say.

Reuters - Texas billionaire Allen Stanford surrendered to U.S. authorities in Virginia on Thursday after criminal charges were filed against him, Stanford's lawyer said.

Reuters - U.S. private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co is reconsidering its plan to list in New York, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is urging Congress to act quickly on the plan to overhaul financial rules.

R. Allen Stanford, who was accused of running a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme, surrendered to the F.B.I. Thursday night, his lawyer said.

While other ads promise to help buyers if they lose their jobs, the German company focuses on its cars? technology and heritage.

Half of those on the unemployment insurance rolls have exhausted their 26 weeks of benefits under regular state-level programs.

A federal jury says a woman should pay $80,000 for each of 24 songs posted on an Internet site for others to download.

The spoof edition was an effort to draw attention to climate change as European Union leaders gathered to discuss the issue in Brussels.

Vikram S. Pandit has not been perfect as chief executive of Citigroup, but most of the bank?s problems preceded him.

Discover Financial Services reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly operating loss as the company cut costs and had fewer bad loans than forecast.

The drug Ilaris treats two forms of an auto-inflammatory disease called cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome.

Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford has surrendered to the US authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Reuters - Asian stocks snapped a four-day slide on Friday and government bond yields climbed after upbeat U.S. factory and jobs data provided more evidence that the global economy is recovering from its deep recession.