Hopes that politicians will make further progress tackling the eurozone debt crisis this week saw world markets make cautious gains today.

A BLEAK picture of an economy unable to avoid extended international turmoil has been presented in the winter report of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

Electrical retailer Dixons today warned that its financial results this year would fall below expectations after seeing disappointing Christmas sales.

A last-minute buying binge brought on by cheap prices has rescued US stocks from a steep decline on Wall Street.