Business Diary: A message from our sponsors in Dubai

If you want the truth, head for local sources. So it is that we turn to the state-owned Gulf News in the UAE, for an update on Dubai. Top headline? "Dubai World intervention carefully timed". Everything's going to be fine then.

Stock exchange at the cutting edge

To the Techmark awards on Thursday night, which commemorate the achievements of small companies, often at the forefront of technology. The guest speaker was Xavier Rolet, boss of the London Stock Exchange, who appeared just hours after his Exchange's own technology proved less impressive, collapsing for several hours and leaving traders frozen out.

Cheeky monkeys are full of beans

John Lewis's weekly sales updates provide a fascinating snapshot of how the UK high street is performing in these recessionary times, as well as insights into what gets shoppers going. Sales were up 20 per cent last week, the firm says, thanks to bumper sales of "cheeky-monkey bean chairs" for kids and a new Waitrose mince pie made, apparently, to a more old-fashioned recipe.

Number of the day: 120

The number of Woolworths premises occupied by various types of pound stores, a year after the chain closed