Latest Headlines from The FT
Tentative tone takes hold as investors seek direction
Global Markets Overview: FTSE All-World index remains becalmed near six-week highs, with stock investors reluctant to push riskier assets higher without a fresh catalyst
China export growth beats estimates
China reported 45.7 per cent growth in exports for February from a year earlier, providing fresh evidence of a robust recovery in an economy poised to overtake Japan in size
Allen takes over helm at EMI Music
The former chief executive of ITV is to take over as executive chairman as the music group, owned by private equity house Terra Firma, seeks to raise £120m in new funds
Myners to toughen bank pay disclosure rules
Tens of thousands of UK investment bankers could be caught by a new government proposal that banks should disclose pay details for anyone earning more than £500,000 a year
Call for action on speculation rules
Germany and France are stepping up pressure for urgent EU action to tighten regulation in sovereign debt markets – in particular of credit default swaps – in the wake of the Greek crisis
Brown sets March 24 date for Budget
Gordon Brown has confirmed the Budget will be held on March 24 in what is expected to be his government’s last major political event before the start of the general election campaign
Tullett Prebon shares soar on bid approach
The group, headed by Terry Smith, is the largest government bond broker in Europe and has said it is likely to benefit further from any crisis in European sovereign debt
Northern Rock losses halve to £139m
Gross government lending to state-owned lender rises by £8.5bn to £22.8bn but the group’s underlying loss falls in second half as it splits into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ banks
London protested at torture, says ex-MI5 chief
Britain complained to the US over the latter’s use of torture on terrorist suspects, says a former head of the Security Service
Internet law ‘threatens free speech’
Plans to force internet providers to block sites carrying pirated music and films ‘threaten freedom of speech and the open internet’, says internet and telecom companies
Hague proffers EU olive branch
William Hague says the Conservatives have made ‘a strategic decision’ not to pick a fight with the rest of Europe if they win the election
Investors warn EU on private equity rules
Europe risks building a protectionist wall between itself and the global private equity industry if plans for a sweeping overhaul of regulation in the sector go ahead, some of the world’s biggest institutional investors have warned
Regulators tell US banks to hold funds
US regulators have told banks not to increase dividends or buy back shares until political and economic uncertainty surrounding the industry dissipates, in a move that will delay by months the return of capital to shareholders
Barclays eyes large US bank deal
The UK banking group is looking at buying a large US retail bank as it tries to rebalance its business away from a booming investment banking franchise
Europe cries foul over US defence tender
European countries have accused Washington of foul play after the continent’s largest aerospace and defence company pulled out of a multibillion-dollar race to supply the US military, alleging unfair competition
Techs reflect on decade since dotcom boom
In January 2000, 17 dotcom companies paid more than $2m each to advertise during the Super Bowl, the season-ending national championship game for American footbal
Beijing still keen to buy US bonds
China’s investments in US Treasury bonds are continuing ‘every day’ and should not be politicised, according to the head of China’s foreign exchange administration, which manages $2,400bn in forex reserves
Justice powers shift to Northern Ireland
Responsibility for policing and justice will be handed to the Northern Ireland assembly after an overwhelming vote, which left the Ulster Unionists isolated in their opposition
Wide trade gap hits recovery hopes
The UK’s trade deficit with the rest of the world reached its widest since August 2008 in January as exports dropped sharply, hitting hopes that the weak pound can deliver an export-driven recovery
Lord Paul in new expenses inquiry
Labour was on the back foot after it emerged that donor Lord Paul would be investigated by the House of Lords authorities over claims he took thousands of pounds in inappropriate expenses