HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, said a theft of data by a former employee affected up to 24,000 Swiss client accounts, dealing a hefty blow to the reputation of its private bank.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch celebrated his 79th birthday yesterday, but, it seems, age has not wearied him.

Warren Buffett was awarded total compensation of about $519,490 in 2009 to run Berkshire Hathaway Inc, a 6 percent increase mainly reflecting the higher cost of keeping the world's third-richest person safe.

Lehman Brothers Holdings used accounting gimmicks and had been insolvent for weeks before it filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, a court-appointed examiner said.

Mexico's Carlos Slim, named the world's richest man, first showed a talent for business as a 10-year-old kid when he filled his pockets with pesos selling drinks and snacks to his family.

The court-appointed examiner who investigated the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers Holding Co is set to make his report publicly available, after a judge ruled he could do so on Thursday.

The US trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by US sales abroad.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has indirectly accused Australia's major banks of profiteering on interest rates, saying the recent series of ''super-sized'' rate rises had outpaced increases in the banks' funding costs.

China's inflation rose in February amid galloping growth and demand for scarce labor, increasing pressure on Beijing to ease off its stimulus while keeping a recovery going in the world's third-largest economy.

Chances of a broad overhaul of US financial regulation this year have dimmed after bipartisan Senate talks collapsed.

European Union have states failed to agree  on new rules to regulate managers of hedge funds, private equity and other alternative funds, an EU diplomat said.

The number of newly laid-off US workers requesting unemployment benefits slipped last week, but remains above the level many economists say would signal new hiring.

BMW's cost cutting measures have begun to gain traction as the German premium automaker posted a better-than-expected 2009 profit despite lower vehicle production.

Air France and Ryanair clashed over subsidies after the French carrier accused its low-cost Irish rival of putting pressure on regional authorities to give unfair support as the price of using their airports.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's whirlwind tour of Europe and the United States has won him political applause for austerity measures but failed to impress financial markets.

US economists raised their forecast for economic growth in 2010 in March, the third straight monthly rise, while trimming their growth forecast for 2011, according to a new survey.

By MATT O'SULLIVAN

Qantas is turning around the decline in yields - or average air fares - after they bottomed out last year, but it is still experiencing weakness in earnings from its international flights.

Australia added 11,400 full-time positions in February but not enough to stop the jobless rate edging higher after a revision for January.

Britain's sovereign credit profile has deteriorated but the country was still within tolerance of a triple-A rating, Fitch Ratings said overnight.

The US government ran up the largest monthly deficit in history in February, keeping the flood of red ink on track to top last year's record for the full year.