Demand for Nurofen painkillers and other health brands in emerging markets helped Reckitt Benckiser offset weaker markets elsewhere to post a rise in half-year profits today.

Mobile phone giant Vodafone was today poised to buy Germany's biggest cable operator in a deal worth €10.7bn.

Security group G4S dashed hopes for a speedy recovery from its Olympics woes today by warning that this year will be just as challenging.

Burberry shrugged off worries that slowing Chinese growth will stifle demand for its handbags and trench coats today as it reported better-than-expected sales at its stores.

The boss of Dixons Retail today said the Currys and PC World owner was poised to take advantage of the demise of rival Comet.

Falling energy prices left its mark on Royal Dutch Shell today after a weaker-than-expected profits performance drove a big fall in its share price.

GlaxoSmithKline warned that sales in 2012 would be flat as pressure on drug prices intensifies in Europe, due to government austerity measures aimed at curbing healthcare bills.

Oil giant BP revealed a dip in profits yesterday as its commitment to sell off billions of pounds of assets in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico disaster hit production.

Strong demand on transatlantic routes boosted profits at British Airways owner International Airlines Group today, despite another jump in fuel costs.

The owner of Argos heaped more gloom on the retail sector today as it revealed the catalogue chain saw same-store sales drop nearly 9% in the last three months.

Mothercare delivered more downbeat UK trading figures today as the chain begins the task of slashing the size of its high street estate.

Mothercare delivered more downbeat UK trading figures today as the chain begins the task of slashing the size of its high street estate.

Banking giant HSBC today said profits were “comfortably ahead” of last year in the first three months of 2010 amid lower toxic debt levels.

Department store chain Debenhams today hailed the success of its "Designers at Debenhams" range in helping to deliver a 14% rise in annual profits.

Sales of designer ranges are booming in the economic and consumer downturn, department store chain Debenhams said today.

In the week British Chancellor Alistair Darling made a bold bid to get shoppers spending again, retailing casualties are sprawled across the corporate landscape.

The new head of GlaxoSmithKline today said the drug giant must change to survive the growing threat of generic competition for its leading products.

Tour operator Thomas Cook today said it was on course to meet expectations after trading for the summer remained strong in “all major markets”.

Tour operator Thomas Cook today said it was on course to meet expectations after trading for the summer remained strong in “all major markets”.

Mothercare today revealed a further solid sales performance as the babycare retailer was buoyed by a surge in demand at its internet and catalogue arm.

A surprise last-minute cut in US interest rates failed to steady the world’s stock markets today in the face of growing gloom over a possible economic recession.

Royal Bank of Scotland said today it was in good shape after half-year profits hit £5bn (€7.4bn) and it eased worries about recent market turbulence.

Halifax Bank of Scotland came under pressure today as the group’s faltering share of the new mortgage market overshadowed a 13% increase in profits.

Mobile phone giant Vodafone will unveil a slight increase in annual underlying earnings to £12bn (€17.7bn) today, despite tough times for the firm in UK and European markets.

Music and books retailer HMV today said it had paid the price for failing to react quickly enough to changing consumer demands as it issued its second profits warning since the start of the year.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE met forecasts with a 16% rise in 2006 profit yesterday and said a dip in growth this year as some old products go off patent would be less than feared.

Capital Radio and Classic FM parent group GCap Media today confirmed it had hired former Virgin Radio head Fru Hazlitt as it struggles to turn its fortunes around.

The impact of the falling greenback was felt around the world this week as the pound soared towards the magical two dollar level.

The recovery of retail chain Marks & Spencer is expected to continue next week when the high street giant publishes its results for the first half of the year.

The recovery of Marks & Spencer is expected to continue next week when the high street giant publishes its results for the first half of the year.

The pharmaceuticals sector was under pressure today after high-profile setbacks for AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline spooked investors.

Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline today raised its full-year earnings target after reporting a boost in sales despite setbacks in the launch of new drugs.

Services group Rentokil Initial dealt a blow to recovery hopes today by reducing profits expectations at its biggest division.

Banking giant HSBC today posted an 18% hike in first-half profits of $12.52bn (€9.8bn).

BT soared in value today as it revealed it was winning more high-tech business to offset falling revenues in traditional fixed-line telephony.

British financial news and data provider Reuters today reported a better-than-expected 13% rise in first quarter revenues as it benefited from price increases and recent acquisitions.

British ports and ferries group P&O bowed to a £3.3bn (€4.8bn) takeover from Dubai today as the iconic shipping brand signalled the end of 168 years of independence.

RYANAIR shrugged off a doubling in fuel prices to report record interim profits yesterday.