Vodafone confirms India ambition 2006.12.26

Vodafone is considering a bid for the Indian mobile phone arm of Hutchison Whampoa but faces stiff competition.

N Ireland tops house price chart 2006.12.26

Northern Ireland saw house prices rise faster than in any other part of the UK during 2006, the Halifax says.

Venezuela mulls euro oil switch 2006.12.26

Venezuela has expresses interest in an Iranian move to ask buyers to pay for oil in euros rather than US dollars.

Investment bank fights for Delphi 2006.12.26

An investment bank offers Delphi $4.7bn, signalling a battle for control of the troubled car parts firm.

US consumer spending posts rise 2006.12.26

US consumer spending records its biggest increase since July, figures from the Commerce Department show.

Temps must fight 'Scrooge bosses' 2006.12.26

Christmas temporary workers are urged to take action against 'Scrooge' bosses who pay below the minimum wage.

Tesco recalling Christmas lights 2006.12.26

Supermarket group Tesco recalls five types of Christmas lights because of a potential electrical fault.

Fewer shopping on Christmas Eve 2006.12.26

Figures reveal a big drop in the number of shoppers visiting stores on Christmas Eve.

More windfalls predicted for 2007 2006.12.26

There could be more windfall payments next year if a prediction by international business consultants Deloitte comes true.

Blackberry demand boosts RIM 2006.12.26

Demand for Blackberry handheld devices helps maker RIM unveil a strong rise in third quarter profits.

Zimbabwe in talks on China loan 2006.12.26

Zimbabwe prepares to open talks with China for a $2bn loan, in a bid to boost its crumbling economy.

Georgia 'agrees Russia gas bill' 2006.12.26

Georgia "agrees" to pay twice as much for its gas imports from Russia, ending a dispute between the two.

Shoppers in late Christmas rush 2006.12.26

Banks are predicting record consumer spending this Christmas weekend, as millions hit the stores.

Raytheon in $3.3bn sell-off deal 2006.12.26

US defence contractor Raytheon sells its aircraft operations in a $3.3bn-deal.

Lula seeks end to aviation crisis 2006.12.26

Brazil's president demands action from aviation authorities as delays hit thousands of passengers.

Ministers agree TV licence deal 2006.12.26

Gordon Brown and Tessa Jowell agree to raise the TV licence fee by less than the current inflation rate.

Toyota 'to overtake GM in 2007' 2006.12.26

Toyota is likely to overtake US rival General Motors as the world's biggest carmaker in 2007, figures show.

Georgia in gas deal with Turkey 2006.12.26

Georgia plans to buy 800 million cubic metres of gas from Turkey next year, almost half of its needs.

Premier sales hit by mild weather 2006.12.26

Premier Foods, owner of brands like Angel Delight and Oxo, says sales were affected by recent mild weather.

Court halves Exxon spill damages 2006.12.26

A US court cuts the level of damages Exxon Mobil must pay out for a 1989 oil spill off Alaska to $2.5bn.

Euronext investors overwhelmingly back NYSE merger 2006.12.25

Euronext shareholders on Tuesday (ENXT. PA) approved overwhelmingly a $14-billion plan to merge the multinational European exchange operator with the New York Stock Exchange and form the first transatlantic bourse. Around 98. 2 percent of shareholders present or represented at the meeting backed the merger, a margin that surprised even Euronext Chief Executive Jean-Francois Theodore after several shareholders voiced opposition to the deal in recent weeks.