Apple brings in variable pricing on iTunes

Restrictions on copying tracks disappear

• • Video Dan McCrum on Apple’s strategy
• • Tech blog Macworld without Steve Jobs?
• • Apple chief reveals hormone imbalance
• • Why Jobs’ health woes go to the core of Apple
• • Lex Apple and Steve Jobs

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Rice to join UN Gaza ceasefire talks

Israeli tank fire kills at least 30 Palestinians at UN school

• • Oil hits $50 as Middle East conflict escalates
• • Gideon Rachman Israel’s self-defeating Gaza offensive
• • Roula Khalaf Egypt’s balancing act
• • Hamas faces a share of the blame
• • Slideshow Ground war in Gaza
• • Bush stops short of condemnation

Investors cheer as retailers reassure

Next and Debenhams Christmas trading better than expected

• • Lex UK retail
• • Video Elizabeth Rigby on some Christmas cheer for retailers
• • New Look reports strong trading
• • Lex UK corporate credit
• • Co-op adds to retail relief
• • Banks miss out on FTSE gains

Nationwide reports further fall in house prices

December drop takes annual decline to 15.9%

• • FT Alphaville UK house prices – nearly where they should be
• • Home loan approvals at fresh low
• • North-east is worst hit by loss on sales
• • Prime mortgage arrears worst for eight years
• • UK house prices fall 8.7% in 2008
• • In depth UK house prices

Billionaire Merckle commits suicide

Investor lost millions on Volkswagen share trades

• • Obituary Audacious and aggressive risk-taker
• • Altucher Suicide epidemic taking hold
• • Merckle given more time to repay debt
• • Merckle at risk of losing empire
• •  Bail-out refusal knocks billionaire

Eurozone inflation tumbles

Euro falls to three-week low against dollar and sterling

• • Lex Market inflexion points
• • Euro weakens as prices plunge
• • Inflation data put pressure on ECB
• • FT series The euro at 10

Dow considers legal action against Kuwait

Follows cancellation of planned $17bn joint venture

• • Lex Chemical imbalance
• • Video Francesco Guerrera on Dow’s catch-22
• • Kuwait cancels Dow Chemical deal
• • LyondellBasell in battle to survive
• • KPMG warns of Mideast threat to chemicals

Merrill’s financial advisers’ loyalty questioned

Division head’s departure raises doubts after BofA merger

• • In depth US banks
• • Veteran McCann quits Merrill Lynch

Central banks must be the debt watchdogs

• • Large calls for stronger finance watchdog
• • Banks could face tough lending rules