Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland has announced a full year loss of £2bn - further fuelling the debate about bankers' pay and bonuses.

Centrica, saw a 1% rise in operating profits last year to £2.41bn, but the British Gas arm saw earnings slide 30% to £522m.

Fashion retailer Peacocks has been sold out of administration to Edinburgh Woollen Mill, saving 6,000 jobs, but thousands of staff will still be made redundant.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has welcomed the creation of 3,000 new jobs in the UK by the world's biggest hotelier, InterContinental Hotels.

The Government is facing pressure to give a £500m boost to business in next month's Budget and make changes to the tax system to help drive economic growth.