World stocks, US dollar fall

World stocks and the U.S. dollar fell on Friday as oil prices rose on escalating violence in Libya, overshadowing a U.S. jobs report that showed the economic recovery shifting up a gear. Gold advanced above $1,430 an ounce and U.S.…

Land investment scams in Britain up

More and more people are being targeted by firms cold-calling them to buy land they say is ripe for development, the BBC has learnt. Many are persuaded to pay tens of thousands of pounds for land which is unlikely ever to be built on. The…

Petrol prices in UK may hit £2 a litre

Petrol prices could soar to £2 a litre if the instability in Libya and neighbouring countries escalates, a Government minister has warned. Alan Duncan, a former oil trader, suggested the price of crude could top 200 dollars a barrel -…

China to tackle inflation

China's government called Saturday for higher social spending, controls on inflation and measures to urgently close a divisive rich-poor gap, betting that rising living standards and better services will dampen growing public expectations…