British Airways said its financial guidance for the year remains unchanged as it reported a 3.4% drop in traffic.

No-frills airline Ryanair, which is currently trying to buy its Irish rival Aer Lingus, reported an 11% rise in total passenger numbers in December.

Western Australian airline Skywest saw its charter services more than double in December, but carried fewer passengers on its standard airline services.

Better than expected Christmas sales, higher profits and easing fears about its debt position helped department store chain Debenhams gain a third of its value Tuesday.

Marks & Spencer's is expected to announce 1,000 job cuts when it unveils its trading update tomorrow.

Engineering and construction group Costain, in a joint venture with consultants Halcrow and contractor Colas, has been awarded a five-year £220m managing agent contractor contract by the Highways Agency.

Oil and gas firm Enegi said the PAP#1-ST#3, on its drilling program at Garden Hill South, produced 460 barrels of oil and natural gas of 236 barrels of oil equivalent.

Huntsworth, the public relations and healthcare communications firm, will begin a share buyback programme to buy up to £5m of its existing shares.

Aim listed telecoms group SpiriTel announced that it has won a major private voice network contract with a leading international hotel group.

Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury Publishing has bought Arden Shakespeare from Cengage Learning.

Leed Petroleum has started commercial production at its three Eugene Island wells in the Gulf of Mexico, but will defer its 2009 capital expenditure programme.

Ryanair has received only a handful of takers for its ?750m offer for rival Irish airline Aer Lingus.

Aim listed content management software provider Geong International said current trading has benefited from a series of contract wins in the financial and auto sectors worth £1.17m.

EBTM, the online retailer of band t-shirts and other music-inspired fashion, is considering its options including the disposal of the whole business after Christmas sales fell by a third from last year.

Construction firm and housebuilder Galliford Try has, in partnership with Earth Tech, won three contracts with Yorkshire Water worth a total of £29m.

Engineer Metalrax is to close its Stackright and Makespace businesses and relocate its Samuel Groves and RTA businesses.

Events and conferencing group Tarsus said it expects full year 2008 adjusted pre-tax profits to be in line with company expectations.