Cover story

• Partygaming (LSE: GI000A0ERMF2.L - news) in deal with US authorities – Shares in online gaming groups jump

UK

• New UK car sales plunge in March
• Workers occupy three factories over job losses
• Unions hit out at Osborne over pay deal threat
• OFT chief warns on banks power
• FSA steps up scrutiny in get scary drive
• Innovation bodies call for £2bn in funding
• UK ministers urged to act on green investment
• Fresh warning over UK deficit
• Ofcom outlines radio reforms
• Land value falls on weak demand for new home
• Worlds their Oyster with Thames travel

Companies

• Merkin duped his investors, Cuomo claims
• Merry-go-round as banks lure talent
• Stronger banks poach senior staff from rivals
• GMs European arm lures investors
• Challenges remain as HSBC (LSE: HSBA.L - news) raises £12.5bn
• Stanford denies Ponzi scheme
• Citigroup (NYSE: C - news) names heads for main divisions
• Michael Pages profits tumble
• Partygaming in deal with US authorities
• Tchenguiz pub group defaults on loan

Markets

• Defence stocks protect FTSEs gains
• Asian stocks set back by bank worries
• Overview: Bears regain the upper hand
• Crudes early advance runs out of steam
• Dollar recoups losses on stock sell-off
• Dire quarter for European IPO (IPOA.NX - news) s
• G8 warns of hunger threat to stability
• CDS rally reflects east Europe boost
• Icap (LSE: IAP.L - news) and CLS launch forex venture
• European bourses head lower

Comment

• Obama: the right man at the wrong time
• A chance for bankers to refocus their talents
• The market may be bust but so is the state
• A freer China would stimulate spending
• Financial groups must still be free to compete

Lex

• The euro in eastern Europe
  A new currency is supposed to be a silver bullet but it is hard to see what lasting * Sun/IBM – If the two are involved in brinkmanship over terms, the smaller computer company would be smart not to press its luck
• Aer Lingus (LSE: AERL.L - news) /EasyJet -The two airline departures one unscheduled, one early are apparently prompted by fatigue and do not reflect well on either company – Apr * UK public finances – Browns reputation for fiscal rectitude is as battered as a deep-fried Mars Bar, and his divorce from Prudence will require years of spending freezes
• Uranium – Prices may be bottoming as small miners struggle to cover costs, big ones back away from projects, and utilities sniff bargains
  US may cede to Irans nuclear ambition
• BrisConnections – The machines are boring, but the company which is tunnelling a toll road from downtown Brisbane to the airport is anything but