Pre-budget report preview: Chancellor appears to dampen speculation of tax and spending changes in tomorrow's report. By Ashley Seager.

  European pharma president wins the battle to succeed Jean-Pierre Garnier. By Graeme Wearden.

  Economics: Delaying the election was the right thing to do, but it comes at a considerable political cost. By Larry Elliott.

  Shares in crisis-hit bank soar more than 14% on reports that four buyout firms could battle to seize control. By Graeme Wearden.

  But prime minister's move will not adversely affect the online market research group's performance this year. By Richard Wray.

  Justin McCurry offers a glimpse of the future from this year's Ceatec advanced technologies exhibition near Tokyo.

  Lunchtime market report: Conservative party donor and deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft astonishes dealers with news of an extraordinary deal for OneSource Services that will bring a timely multimillion pound boost to his personal fortune. By Marianne Barriaux.

  German business software maker SAP saw its shares drop more than 5% today after agreeing to pay just over €4.8bn for Paris-based Business Objects. By David Gow in Brussels.

  A jump in oil prices to record highs last month pushed British firms'input price costs up at their fastest pace in over two years. By Ashley Seager.

  The financial services sector will shed thousands of jobs next year as a result of the global credit crunch.

  Bank admits it handled credit crisis badly but says significant job cuts 'not contemplated'.

  Poorer gas and electricity customers who use prepayment meters are being charged more than wealthier direct debit consumers, a household fuel survey claims today.

  Vodafone has bought the Italian and Spanish operations of Swedish telecoms company Tele2 for £537m in a move that will strengthen its position in both markets.

  Louis Gallois, chief executive of EADS, has published an open letter to staff attempting to dampen speculation over the future of senior executives caught up in an investigation into suspected insider dealing.