Scammers targeting people who want to work from home are using the downturn to cash in, the Office of Fair Trading says.

Irish broadcaster Setanta and BSkyB each get one of the two remaining package of Premier League broadcast rights for 2010 to 2013.

The clothing retailer Austin Reed agrees to buy womenswear company Viyella from administrators, safeguarding about 230 jobs.

BA makes a loss of £70m in the nine months to 31 December, bruised by further economic weakness and the weak pound.

The number of firms going bust in England and Wales rises by 220% because of the recession, official figures show.

Lord Mandelson reiterates his warning that the UK must resist the “temptation to retreat into economic protectionism”.

Three power companies receive government permission to build new power stations which could provide up to four million households with energy.

House prices were 1.9% higher in January than December, but the Halifax warns the overall downward trend continues.

Plane and train-maker Bombardier is cutting 300 jobs at its Belfast factory, as part of a 1,340 global reduction.

The Bank of England has reduced interest rates to 1% from 1.5% in an attempt to boost the slowing economy.