Owner Andy Stewart believes Big Buck’s is as enthusiastic as ever as he goes for an amazing 17th win on the spin in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree tomorrow.

INTERNET marketplace eBay reported sales and profit that topped analysts’ estimates, buoyed by a campaign to promote its expanded retail offerings and broader use of the PayPal online-payments service.

Mounting speculation that a leading credit agency is to imminently downgrade the ratings of a number of eurozone countries drove global markets sharply lower today and sent the euro spinning down to a 17-month low.

Stocks recovered from early big losses today as Italy’s borrowing costs eased on mounting speculation that the Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi would soon resign.

European stock markets advanced strongly today amid mounting expectations that a Greek referendum on a European bailout plan will be abandoned.

European markets saw more volatility today as traders digested a multitrillion-pound emergency plan being drawn up to rescue the euro.

A suspected rogue trader was being questioned today after Swiss banking giant UBS discovered €1.48bn worth of unauthorised deals.

A 31-year-old man was arrested in London today in connection with allegations of €1.48bn of rogue trading at Swiss banking giant UBS.

Hopes that the US would embark on a fresh round of fiscal stimulus to boost its ailing economy were dashed tonight, sparking fresh fears about renewed stock market turmoil.

The turmoil battering world markets showed signs of easing today amid hopes of a fresh round of stimulus measures to boost the flagging US economy.

Shares tumbled again today as many global markets entered official bear market territory after one of the worst days on Wall Street since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

A record slump for London's FTSE 100 Index was confirmed tonight after a further bloodbath in panic-stricken financial markets.

World markets took another pummelling today as the debt storm whipping the US and eurozone sliced a further £30bn from London’s top stocks.

News Corporation shares rallied today amid reports it may bring forward plans to split Rupert Murdoch’s chairman and chief executive role in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.

Greek MPs today imposed tax hikes and spending cuts to stave off bankruptcy amid a second day of rioting which left dozens injured.

Commodities giant Glencore will tonight become the first company in 25 years to be fast-tracked into London’s FTSE 100 Index after official trading in its shares got under way today.

OWNER Andy Stewart admits the exploits of champion staying hurdler Big Buck’s have changed his life.

Legendary stayer Big Buck’s features among 19 entries for the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday.

JOHN SMITH’S Grand National favourite The Midnight Club enjoyed a workout yesterday under his potential big-race jockey, Ruby Walsh.

The FTSE 100 Index started the new year with a bang today as it rallied past 6000 with a gain of more than 2%.

A WARNING that Spain’s credit rating may be cut resulted in a fresh rush of concern about the euro yesterday on the eve of a meeting of EU leaders determined to keep markets calm.

Europe faced more seemingly inevitable bail-outs today as it battled to keep the debt crisis from engulfing country after country.

Manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce today said it had identified the faulty part behind an engine failure which forced an A380 superjumbo into an emergency landing and was making efforts to fix the problem.

The dollar continued its decline against the world’s major currencies today as traders braced themselves for more action to prop up the US recovery.

BRITISH AIRWAYS cabin crew began a five-day strike yesterday after talks broke down in a dispute over wages, jobs and working conditions.

Big Buck’s (30-100 favourite) maintained his unbeaten record over timber in Britain with victory in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

RYANAIR shareholders are in line for a €1 billion payout as the airline rules out a further Aer Lingus bid and hints it could slightly raise its full-year earnings forecast.

The US government today called for more powers to help struggling banks amid signs of a more sober assessment of its bailout scheme from world markets.

IRISH shares finished the week in negative territory yesterday, closing down almost 4% yesterday as bank shares again plunged.

American car makers Ford and General Motors said today they planned to hike UK vehicle prices despite falling sales as they struggle to combat the impact of the weak pound.

Shares in Halifax Bank of Scotland closed 21% higher on London's FTSE index tonight amid hopes a rescue takeover by Lloyds TSB will go ahead as planned.

Halifax Bank of Scotland’s shares surged ahead today amid a revival in confidence over its rescue takeover by Lloyds TSB.

Shares in Woolworths rose sharply today as investors awaited Iceland founder Malcolm Walker’s next move in his pursuit of the group’s retail arm.

Woolworths caused a surprise today by ending chief executive Trevor Bish-Jones’ six-year run in one of the high street’s toughest jobs.

More than £40bn was wiped off the value of UK blue chip shares today as stocks nose-dived amid fresh fears over the credit crisis.

The shockwaves resounding around world markets may have seen a host of corporate deals shelved, but the turmoil could yet be decisive in the outcome of the world’s biggest banking takeover.

Royal Bank of Scotland turned up the heat on rival Barclays after today sweetening the terms of its £48.2 bn (€71bn) offer for Dutch bank ABN Amro.

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus boosted its flagging spirits this week after unveiling record orders at the Paris air show.

A consortium headed by Royal Bank of Scotland is likely to announce details of a takeover offer worth £49bn (€66bn) for Dutch bank ABN Amro tomorrow.

Barclays’ rivals in the battle for ABN Amro today said they would reveal their hand over a potential counter-bid for the Dutch bank on Tuesday.

The takeover rumour mill is working overtime in Europe’s airline industry as the major players begin to jostle for top spot in a sector that is expected to see consolidation like never before.