U.K. Contraction More Than Thought

LSE Resumes Trading After Glitch

The London Stock Exchange Group was hit by a technical glitch causing it to halt trade, damaging efforts to establish itself as a technically superior exchange operator.

U.K. Deepwater Drilling Challenged

A High Court judge in the U.K. has decided to hear a legal challenge to the British government's decision to allow new deepwater drilling in British waters, potentially hampering efforts by international energy companies to explore for oil in the U.K. North Sea.

More U.K. Women Directors Sought

A U.K. review of women in business recommended that FTSE 100 companies voluntarily double the number of women board members within four years—and warned that mandatory rules may be needed if no progress is made.

Growth in U.K. Retail Sales Slows Sharply

Growth in U.K. retail sales slowed sharply in February, the Confederation of British Industry's monthly poll showed Thursday.

RBS's Net Loss Narrows

Royal Bank of Scotland posted a small profit in the fourth quarter, and the bank said its net loss in 2010 narrowed to £1.13 billion ($1.55 billion) from £3.6 billion a year earlier.

• Heard: RBS: Now for the Hard Part

Centrica's Profit Soars

Energy group Centrica said its 2010 net profit more than doubled due to an increase in customers at its British Gas division and the acquisition of Venture Production.

• The Source: Fallout From Centrica's Bumper Year

BAT Profit Rises

British American Tobacco posted a rise in full-year profit on higher sales, boosted by growing demand in its emerging markets, but volumes fell as smokers struggle with tough global economic conditions.

BOE Warming to a Rate Rise

A third Bank of England policy maker voted for a rise in interest rates in February and others thought the case for an increase had strengthened, underscoring divisions at the U.K.'s central bank and raising the chances that rates will go up soon.

• The Source: Hawks Worry Small Businesses
• Economists React: Sympathy for Rate Rise
• Heard: BOE Heads Toward Rate Increase

U.K. Investors Rediscover Rentals

U.K. Mortgage Lending Picks Up

Henderson Tries to Curb Gartmore Outflows