BP’s exploration unit should be fined at least $11.7bn (€10.1bn) for its role in causing the largest offshore oil spill in US history, a government lawyer told the judge who will determine the penalty.

UK investors lost confidence in the prospect of a speedy resolution to the eurozone debt crisis today, causing London's leading share index to drop into the red.

Oil from the worst spill in US history could soon end up at petrol stations, construction sites and even grocery stores when BP sells the crude taken from a ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico to raise money for wildlife protection.

Wall Street recovered from a mostly down session today, ekeing out a gain as investors brushed off another slide in Chinese stocks.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed to its highest level in 17 months today as strong earnings and merger news helped the stock market shake off a weak consumer spending report. The three main gauges posted a weekly and monthly gain.