The latest financial headlines from the UK:
- Europe cries foul over US defence tender
European countries have accused Washington of foul play after the continent’s largest aerospace and defence company pulled out of a multibillion-dollar race to supply the US military, alleging unfair competition - Call for action on speculation rules
Germany and France are stepping up pressure for urgent EU action to tighten regulation in sovereign debt markets – in particular of credit default swaps – in the wake of the Greek crisis
Eurogroup backs Merkel initiative - London protested at torture, says ex-MI5 chief
Britain complained to the US over the latter’s use of torture on terrorist suspects, says a former head of the Security Service - Hague proffers EU olive branch
William Hague says the Conservatives have made ‘a strategic decision’ not to pick a fight with the rest of Europe if they win the election - Regulators tell US banks to hold funds
US regulators have told banks not to increase dividends or buy back shares until political and economic uncertainty surrounding the industry dissipates, in a move that will delay by months the return of capital to shareholders - Internet law ‘threatens free speech’
Plans to force internet providers to block sites carrying pirated music and films ‘threaten freedom of speech and the open internet’, says internet and telecom companies - Barclays eyes large US bank deal
The UK banking group is looking at buying a large US retail bank as it tries to rebalance its business away from a booming investment banking franchise - Investors warn EU on private equity rules
Europe risks building a protectionist wall between itself and the global private equity industry if plans for a sweeping overhaul of regulation in the sector go ahead, some of the world’s biggest institutional investors have warned - Techs reflect on decade since dotcom boom
In January 2000, 17 dotcom companies paid more than $2m each to advertise during the Super Bowl, the season-ending national championship game for American footbal - Justice powers shift to Northern Ireland
Responsibility for policing and justice will be handed to the Northern Ireland assembly after an overwhelming vote, which left the Ulster Unionists isolated in their opposition