A £963,000 bonus in shares awarded to Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester is strongly criticised by politicians and unions.

The pace of US economic growth quickened to a 2.8% annualised rate in the three months to December, the Commerce Department says.

Greece could reach a deal with its creditors over the weekend, according to the EU's Economic Commissioner, Olli Rehn.

Growing inequality should now be the priority for leaders after the economic crisis, senior figures at the World Economic Forum say.

Davos veteran Rick Goings, boss of Tupperware, offers "dos and don'ts" for first-time visitors to the World Economic Forum.

Davos comes to terms with a new global power

There's a gloomy mood at this year's meeting of the WEF

The Chancellor George Osborne has revealed details about the new Financial Services Bill that will overhaul regulation of the sector.

Five eurozone economies, including Italy and Spain, are downgraded by rating agency Fitch, citing financial weakness during the debt crisis.

Spain's unemployment figure rose above the five million mark in the last quarter of 2011, official figures show.

US carmaker Ford has reported a surge in profits in 2011, fuelled by a one-off payment and strong sales in its home country.

Outsourcing group Serco announces it is to cut 500 jobs in the UK, mostly at the company's head office in Hampshire.

A European Parliament rapporteur has stood down in protest as a controversial anti-piracy agreement is signed by several countries.

With half the world online by 2016, the web economy in the G20 countries is set to nearly double in size to $4.2tn (£2.7tn), research suggests.

Brokers are telling new borrowers to expect mortgage rates to see-saw in the coming months, owing to economic uncertainty.

Model train and Scalextric maker Hornby issues a profits warning after sales of its train and slot-car racing sets were hit in the run up to Christmas.

BP must cover some but not all of oil rig owner Transocean's liabilities for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a US judge rules.

Up to 350 workers are to lose their jobs at a Kent steel firm which has gone into administration, it is confirmed.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics announces a 17% rise in profits in the last three months of 2011, as smartphone sales boosted earnings.

The pubs chain and brewer Marston's reports "strong" trading over the Christmas period, with higher sales of food and drink.

Payday lenders and other providers of short-term credit will face much tougher regulation when a new watchdog starts work.

The Italian firm that owns the stricken cruise ship Costa Concordia reaches an agreement on compensation with several Italian consumer groups.

No fines will be handed out to anyone who submits their self-assessment tax returns online in the first two days of February.

Retail sales fell in January as shoppers reined in their spending at the start of the year, the CBI says.

Orders for durable goods rose 3% in the US in December, according to official figures from the Commerce Department.

The Federal Reserve says it does not now expect to raise interest rates in the US until late 2014, sending the dollar lower.

Intel is paying $120m (£76m) for RealNetwork's video patents. Experts say it undermines claims that a "patent bubble" has burst.

US coffee chain Starbucks posts a 10% rise in net profits for the three months to 1 January 2012, benefiting from new stores and new products.

US phone network AT&T reports a $6.7bn (£4.3bn) net loss for the three months to the end of December 2011.

Harry Redknapp told police he has paid "fortunes in income tax" and did not "fiddle anybody", a court hears.

London 2012 organisers take control of the Olympic Village site in a ceremony to mark six months until the Games begin.

Relocating to a new stadium would not necessarily guarantee Lincoln City's long-term future, warns a football finance expert.

Speaking from Davos, financier George Soros has warned that Europe is likely to face a "lost decade" and is concerned that the EU may be destroyed by austerity measures.

Dame Ellen MacArthur is in Davos to promote a new sustainable approach for the economy.

Dr Ruth Bender, of the Cranfield School of Management, explains why she thinks it is fair that Stephen Hester gets his bonus worth over £900,000

IMF chief Christine Lagarde has again stressed the need for European governments to prioritise growth as talks on the region's debt crisis continue.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics has announced a 17% rise in profits in the last three months of 2011, as smartphone sales boosted earnings.

Many are struggling to pay their bills but the philosopher Alain De Botton reckons the British should be encouraged to think this is a good idea, by rebranding it as charity.

Credit unions have been around since the nineteenth century but in the past 10 years the number of people using one has risen by more than 200 per cent.

European Commissioner for Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn says Greece is within touching distance of a deal with private banks to write down its debt.

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