Lead Story

Japan growth revised down, adds to pressure on Bank of Japan

Japan’s economy grew less than initially estimated in the fourth quarter and a broad gauge of price trends posted the biggest negative reading on record

Economy & Business

Volkswagen to raise €4bn via shares, bonds

Volkswagen eased shareholder fears it would flood the market with new stock, outlining plans to use a convertible bond alongside a share sale to help fund an acquisition spree

Lufthansa sees cost cuts lifting 2010 profit

Deutsche Lufthansa said it expects its operating profit to improve this year as it cuts more costs and a fragile economic recovery starts to lift demand for air travel

Richest man in world “a Mexican who avoids computers”

Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the first man from a developing nation to become the world's richest person.

Real Madrid accused of throwing away 250m euros

Real Madrid have been accused of throwing 250 million euros ($339 million) down the drain after being dumped out of the Champions League by Olympique Lyon.

Egypt cancels 300 000 sugar tender

Egypt’s state-owned Sugar and Integrated Industries Company (SIIC) said on Thursday that it cancelled a tender to buy 300,000 tonnes of raw sugar for local consumption due to volatile prices.