IBT Staff Reporter

The Bank of England expanded its quantitative easing programme by 25 billion pounds to 200 billion pounds on Thursday, continuing its unprecedented scheme to revive Britain's recession-hit economy.

Risk aversion ahead of key central bank policy decisions put pressure on Britain's leading shares around midsession on Thursday, with weakness in banks and miners offsetting modest gains in defensive telecoms and tobacco firms.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Thursday ahead of jobs and productivity data and same-store sales numbers from major U.S. retailers.

Oil fell to around $80 a barrel after a steep decline in U.S. crude inventories sent prices up 1 percent the previous day, as traders aimed to lock in profits amid weaker equity markets and a firming dollar.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Thursday ahead of jobs and productivity data and same-store sales numbers from major U.S. retailers.

The dollar and the yen edged up on Thursday as short-term investors and Japanese exporters sold into a rally in the euro and higher-yielding currencies which followed a repeated pledge by the U.S. Fed to keep rates low for a while.

The dollar and the yen gained broadly on Thursday as the euro and perceived higher risk currencies succumbed to profit-taking ahead of policy decisions by the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.

The Bank of England said on Thursday it would expand its quantitative easing programme by 25 billion pounds to help kick-start Britain's recession-hit economy.

News, details on corporate bond issues in the European markets on Thursday:

Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said on Thursday the company could look to extend its search engine partnership with Yahoo outside the United States, if it gets regulatory approval.

Wall Street cash bonuses are set to increase by about 40 percent this year, the Wall Street Journal said citing a report by compensation consulting firm Johnson Associates.

Gold prices retreated on Thursday from the record highs they hit in the previous session as the dollar rose ahead of policy decisions from the UK and the euro zone, which curbed appetite for assets seen as higher risk.

Toyota Motor Corp's surprise quarterly profit and halving of its annual loss forecast failed to convince investors the world's No.1 carmaker is back on track, as government subsidies peter out and a strong yen takes its toll.

U.S. shares were expected to fall on Thursday, after ending only marginally higher in the previous session, following the Federal Reserve's statement that it was keeping rates close to zero for an extended period.

World stocks slid on Thursday following the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates near zero for an extended period and ahead of policy decisions by the European Central Bank and Bank of England.

Costco Wholesale Corp reported a 5 percent increase in October same-store sales, helped by a weak U.S. dollar that helped push up international sales.

Toyota Motor Corp's surprise quarterly profit and halving of its annual loss forecast were not enough to convince investors that the world's No.1 carmaker had escaped the worst, as government subsidies peter out and a strong yen takes its toll.

Toyota Motor Corp reported a surprise quarterly profit and slashed its annual loss forecast by more than half as sales and cost cutting beat its forecasts, putting it on track to follow Japanese rivals into the black next year.

Asian shares fell on Thursday, while the dollar recovered most losses made after the U.S. Federal Reserve vowed to keep rates near zero for an extended period and saw a sluggish recovery in the world's biggest economy.

Oil fell toward $79 a barrel on Thursday, after a steep decline in U.S. crude inventories sent prices up 1 percent the previous day, as traders look to the fall in equities markets and firming dollar to take profits.

Asian shares dipped on Thursday, and the dollar fell after the Federal Reserve vowed to keep rates near zero for an extended period and said the recovery of the world's biggest economy would be sluggish.

Spot gold inched lower on Thursday but remained within striking distance of $1,100 an ounce after hitting an all-time high for the second straight session on a weak dollar the previous day.

Google Inc is selling a special search product to online retailers, as the Internet giant widens its hunt for new sources of revenue.

The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday expressed growing confidence that an economic recovery was building, even as it stuck to its commitment to keep borrowing costs near zero for an extended period.

Rock band No Doubt sued video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc over the use of their likeness on its new Band Hero product, accusing the company of turning the rockers into a virtual karaoke act.

Wireless chip supplier Qualcomm Inc on Wednesday forecast weaker than expected full- year results, but its extension of a key deal with Korea's Samsung Electronics helped offset the disappointment for some investors.

Cisco Systems Inc posted a stronger-than-expected profit for its fiscal first quarter and said business was recovering as customers are buying more network equipment again after cutting back for the past year.

An Afghan policeman killed five British soldiers at a checkpoint in Afghanistan and the Taliban said he was one of their fighters who had infiltrated the force.

News Corp and Time Warner Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit as movie studios and cable network gains helped offset declines at their newspaper and magazine units.