BBC Business News

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BA boss reveals takeover ambition - British Airways and Iberia draw up a shortlist of 12 airlines which the firms hope to buy or merge with.
Demand for Equitable Life payout - Pensioners hit by the Equitable Life scandal are making a final attempt to persuade the government to pay them full compensation.
UK car sales suffer sharp decline - New car sales fell 17.5% in August - the second consecutive month of declines, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Overseas demand 'boosts UK firms' - Rising overseas demand has created buoyant conditions for manufacturers in the UK, an industry report suggests, though threats remain.
Need to cut deficit 'supported' - Many people are in favour of reducing the deficit but they are less clear about where cuts should be made, a BBC poll suggests.
Germany extends nuclear lifespan - Germany's government agrees to extend the life span of the country's nuclear power plants by an average of 12 years, officials say.
Macquarie shares down on warning - Shares in Australia's biggest investment bank, Macquarie Group, suffer a sharp fall after it issues a profits warning.
Strike starts at S African mine - Thousands of South African platinum miners at the Northam mine begin a strike in support of a 15% pay claim.
Tube strike disruption expected - Severe disruption is expected on London's Underground network when the first in a series of strikes begins later.
Export agency 'generated £500m' - The Scottish government's exports agency generated more than £500m to the Scottish economy last year, its chief says.
BP well 'poses no further risk' - The official in charge of cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill says the well which caused the damage is no longer a risk to the environment.
Six million facing new tax bills - HM Revenue and Customs says some 1.4 million people each owe about £1,500 in tax, while 4.3 million will get an average rebate of £418.
Rovers takeover man left UK debts - The Indian businessman hoping to buy Blackburn Rovers, Ahsan Ali Syed, left a trail of debt from his time in the UK, 5 live Investigates reveals.
Security stepped up at Kabul Bank - Armed police are posted outside the main branch of Kabul Bank as customers continue to withdraw money amid fears it may collapse.
Industry fears over cheaper coins - Vending machine companies warn cheaper "steel" 5p and 10p coins being considered by the Treasury could cost the industry millions of pounds.
Petrobras files $65bn share offer - The Brazilian state oil company, Petrobras, unveils plans to sell up to $64.5bn of new stock, in one of the world's largest share offers.
Shift in home loan availability - The cost of mortgages is continuing to fall and they are becoming more accessible to some borrowers, figures show.
Bank customers in 'dire poverty' - Banks are accused of leaving some customers in "dire poverty" after taking money out of their accounts without permission.
Four power firms face sales probe - Four of the "big six" UK energy suppliers are to be investigated amid concerns of mis-selling to customers, the regulator says.
US sees 54,000 jobs go in August - The US economy shed another 54,000 jobs in August, the third month in a row that jobs have been lost, official figures show.
UK builders and services falter - New data shows new construction orders contracted in the second quarter, while the services sector slowed sharply in August.
Nigerian economy 'to grow by 10%' - Nigeria's economy will hit double-digit growth by the end of 2011 or early 2012, the country's finance minister says.
HSBC threatens to quit London HQ - HSBC may quit its London headquarters if the UK government decides to break up big banks, a senior executive says.
Chinese consider rival Potash bid - Chinese investors approach Canadian pension fund over a possible rival bid for the fertiliser giant Potash Corporation.
Andean gold in $3bn bidding war - Rival Canadian gold mining companies, Goldcorp and El Dorado, lock horns in a $3bn fight to buy up Andean Resources.
Delhi loses patience with Commonwealth Games - The Commonwealth Games were meant to showcase Delhi, but the Indian capital is struggling to be ready on time amid accusations of poor planning, reports the BBC's Geeta Pandey.
Hawk-Eye firm lined up for sale - The British company behind the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology used in tennis and cricket is to be put up for sale.
Premier League spending tumbles - Spending by English Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window has tumbled 22% from last year, a report says.
What next for Anglo Irish Bank? - The Irish Finance Minister will meet the EU Competition Commissioner Joachim Almunia today to discuss the fate of the collapsed Anglo Irish Bank.
Equitable Life compensation bid - Pensioners hit by the Equitable Life scandal are to make a final bid to persuade the government to pay them full compensation.
Equitable Life saver 'feels cheated' - Pensioners hit by the Equitable Life scandal are to make a final bid to persuade the government to pay them full compensation.
Need to cut deficit 'supported' - Many people are in favour of taking steps to reduce the government deficit but they are less clear on where spending should be cut, a poll commissioned by the BBC suggests.
Tourism near the Gaza border - At the Zikim Kibbutz, near Ashkelon in southern Israel, tourists come in to see what life is like living just a short distance from the Gaza border.
Cairo literary business booming - Egypt's literary scene is thriving, with a new generation of writers and poets taking advantage of an increasing number of small publishers and social networking sites to get their work noticed.
Banks leave customers in 'poverty' - High Street banks have been accused of leaving some customers in "dire poverty" after taking money out of their accounts without permission.
Wrong tax bill for millions in UK - Almost six million people in the UK have paid the wrong amount of income tax in the past year, with some facing a bill of up to £1,400 - although others can expect a rebate.
Past is the future - The lacemaking factory going back to traditional methods to survive
Spending review - What it is, how it works, the key arguments
Starting up - How Silicon Valley's 'rich ecology' works
Merger mania - Banks benefit, but what about the real economy?
Anglo Irish woe - Fate of Dublin-based Anglo Irish Bank tops the EU agenda
Massive Mini - How far can BMW stretch the brand before it snaps?
Expert views - Economists remain divided over the merits of spending cuts