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The US Federal Reserve increases the amount of money available as it seeks to ease the credit crunch. | | Intel withdraws from a project that aimed to put cheap laptops in the hands of children in developing nations. |
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The way people interact with PCs will change dramatically in the next five years, Microsoft chief Bill Gates says. | | A former Goldman Sachs analyst is sentenced to nearly five years in prison for an insider trading plot. |
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US shares plunge as unemployment hits a two-year high, raising fears about a possible recession. | | Record oil and food prices kept eurozone inflation at 3.1% in December, says the European Central Bank. |
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Gordon Brown says MPs should not vote for an above-inflation pay rise, but demonstrate "discipline". | | The short-term confidence of UK firms is at its lowest level in about two years, a survey suggests. |
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Concerns about a slump in UK house prices may damage chances of selling Northern Rock, a report says. | | Marks and Spencer is set to report a growth in Christmas sales despite High Street gloom, reports suggest. |
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Kenya's stock exchange halts trade and the shilling falls back against the dollar as violence continues. | | Kenya's currency and stocks fall amid violent protests against the outcome of Kenya's presidential election. |
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Boeing says that it delivered 441 commercial aircraft in 2007, the most it has managed for six years. | | State Street shares rise, despite the money manager taking a $279m charge for sub-prime mortgage losses. |
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Japan's Nikkei stock index falls 4% to its lowest in 17 months on worries over a strong yen and high oil prices. | | The latest economic data from South Korea and Singapore suggests the US slowdown is hitting East Asia. |
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Shares in Alliance & Leicester jump 16% on reports it has held talks about a takeover by Spanish bank Santander | | An Adriatic fishing zone off Croatia prompts EU warnings of negative consequences. |
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Waitrose unveils plans to expand overseas with a deal to open its food stores in the United Arab Emirates. | | Oil prices fall after producers' cartel Opec agrees to keep output steady at a meeting in Abu Dhabi. |
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Pakistan's main stock market index falls 4.7% in the first trading since the death of Benazir Bhutto. | | Global markets from currencies to shares have reacted nervously to Benazir Bhutto's assassination. |