US chocolate maker Hershey considers launching a solo bid of at least $17bn (£10bn) for UK firm Cadbury, reports say.

The European Central Bank says it will scale back emergency monetary support for fear of fuelling inflation.

Valero Energy announces it is permanently closing its oil refinery in Delaware City, with the loss of 550 jobs.

The Japanese government warns that deflation has returned to the country's economy for the first time since 2006.

Leaders from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi sign a common market trade agreement.

A Swiss court orders the seizure of $350m in assets from the son of Nigeria's ex-ruler Sani Abacha after a 10-year investigation.

Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car company, plans to invest 26bn euros over the next three years to create new vehicles.

South Korea dampens speculation the country is willing to re-negotiate a free trade agreement with the US.

Unions representing staff at Spanish airline Iberia call off planned strike action after a preliminary agreement with management.

Procter & Gamble is recalling 120,000 bottles of Vicks Sinex nasal spray after small traces of bacteria were found.

Europe signs a $1bn deal with Nigeria, aimed at tackling corruption and promoting peace in the troubled Niger Delta.

US computer giant Dell reports another decline in its quarterly profits, sending its shares 7% lower.

Nigeria's president postpones his budget - because senators and representatives disagree on which chamber should host it.

An auction of luxury goods that once belonged to the disgraced financier Bernie Madoff, his wife and an adviser has raised $2m (£1.2m) in the US.

Car manufacturer BMW becomes the 24th sponsor for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The owners of Lord's say they are not planning to sell the stadium's naming rights to fund a £400m redevelopment of the famous venue.

Why many Nigerian entrepreneurs are returning home

Is the famous MGM lion about to lose its roar?

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Should food or education be Malawi's priority?

UK public sector net borrowing reached £11.42bn last month, the highest for the month of October since records began.

UK mortgage lending rose by 5% in October compared with the previous month, according to a lenders' group.

UK car production fell by 6.7% in October compared with a year earlier - the smallest annual decline of the year, figures show.

A further 381 stores are to close at off licence group First Quench, with the loss of 1,908 jobs, the firm's administrators announce.

Nationwide reports a big slump in profits and delivers a gloomy forecast for the UK economy and the housing market.

Brewer Fullers reports a 26% rise in half-year profits as the good early summer weather boosted beer sales.

Banks are still finding "sneaky ways" to make money out of people, says the consumers' association Which?.

Bogus callers posing as council staff are luring homeowners into a council tax scam, say council leaders.

A current account that does not charge for unauthorised overdrafts is unveiled days before a major court judgement.

UK retail sales in October rose at the fastest annual pace since May 2008, government figures show.

Budget flights using the world's largest aircraft are planned, carrying up to 840 people on each flight.

A senior UN official tells the BBC sanctions breaking is still rife in DR Congo, with rebels using smuggled gold to fund arms.

Tobacco firm Philip Morris is ordered to pay out $300m in damages to a former smoker.

A computer glitch affecting aircraft flight plans causes cancellations and delays across the eastern US.

The world's biggest mobile operator, China Mobile, says its business has returned to levels seen before the global downturn.

Sony says it aims to make its LCD TV operations profitable in the financial year starting next April as it continues to cut costs.

The Dutch government announces it will inject a further 4.4bn euros into bailed-out bank ABN Amro.

Visa and Mastercard are warning all banks about a suspected leak of credit card security information in Spain.

The price of crude oil rises to $80 a barrel after figures showed a sharp fall in US stockpiles last week.

US company Intel will stop employing Jewish workers at its Jerusalem plant on Saturdays, following a large protest rally by Orthodox Jews, reports say.

The Indian energy firm Reliance is planning an "aggressive" oil and gas exploration campaign.

Troubled national carrier Air India reports a net loss of 55.5bn rupees for the full-year to the end of March.