NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Börse agreed to merge. If the deal is consummated it will create the world's largest trading platform for shares and derivatives. Shareholders in the German exchange will own 60% of the new company, but senior American politic… more »

The 30-year-long reign of Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, came ever closer to an end, as hundreds of thousands of Egyptians filled the centre of Cairo, calling on him to step down. There were also big demonstrations in Alexandria, Suez and other Egypt… more »

America’s Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, chaired by Phil Angelides, a former California state treasurer, produced its final report into the events that led to the banking system’s meltdown in 2008. It concluded that the crisis was “avoidable” and… more »

A suicide bombing at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport killed 35 people and injured more than 100. There were no claims of responsibility but suspicion inevitably fell on Islamists from Russia’s restive north Caucasus, who have been responsible for previous t… more »

The first big government-bond auctions of the year from "periphery" countries in the euro zone were watched closely by the markets. Portugal paid yields of 6.7% on its ten-year bond. This was below both the 6.8% it paid for a similar maturity last Novemb… more »

A 22-year-old man opened fireat a political event outside a supermarket in Tucson, killing six people, including a federal judge and a nine-year-old girl, and wounding 13 others. Jared Loughner’s alleged main target was Gabrielle Giffords, the local Demo… more »