Even after rebounding late in Moscow, the ruble was still down 14% this week and 27% this month

EIGHT children were hospitalised in France with E coli infections after eating hamburgers that manufacturers said could come from Germany, where an outbreak of the bacteria has killed 37 people.

Royal Bank of Scotland completed the overhaul of its boardroom today with the appointment of two more non-executive directors.

Colin McRae will race his first rally for almost a year after being drafted in to replace world champion Sebastien Loeb in the Kronos Citroen team for Rally Turkey.

Absolute Capital Management Holdings Ltd announced the launch of a German retail hedge fund product for both private and institutional investors called the Absolute Diversified Certificate through SEB bank in Germany.

Card payment processing company EuroConex has appointed Jim Harrow as its new UK director. Mr Harrow was previously a senior executive with Visa and will have responsibility for managing the company’s recently-signed deal with Alliance & Leicester.

Dublin-based payment processing company EuroConex has bought the merchant acquiring business operated by the Norwegian payments subsidiary of Swedish bank SEB.

Luxury goods group Waterford Wedgwood today issued a profits warning after feeling the pressure from tough trading conditions in Germany.

EUROPEAN stock markets are expected to remain volatile this week amid continued fears that central banks will raise interest rates soon.

Redundant workers involved in a siege at a French factory are threatening to blow it up.