Global shares hit their highest since September on Monday and the euro firmed, with investors cautiously optimistic euro zone finance ministers would reach a deal to shore up Greece's dwindling finances.

Two fifths of British workers landed significant pay rises last year but a similar number endured stagnant salaries as the fortunes of the workforce diverged sharply, a human resources organization said on Monday.

Greece said on Sunday it was confident of reaching agreement in negotiations with its euro zone partners but reiterated it would not accept harsh austerity strings in any debt pact.

At a time the financial sector is racing to embrace digital technology to boost sales and drive profits, the traditionally staid insurance industry is in danger of falling behind.

A former boss of HSBC, Stephen Green, has stepped down from his position with a financial services lobby group after allegations that the bank helped people dodge taxes.

The board of Ireland's Aer Lingus (AERL.I) strengthened its support for British Airways-owner IAG's (ICAG.L) takeover approach on Friday, saying that following talks with its suitor, the deal made compelling commercial sense.

France's lower house of parliament approved a law on Saturday letting shops open more often on Sundays, the latest measure in the government's pro-growth bill intended to lift the sluggish economy.

Swiss financial titans UBS and Credit Suisse are expanding their operations in provincial Poland in a cost-saving drive made more urgent by the surge in the value of the Swiss franc.

The coming week will go a long way to dictating whether Greece remains in the euro zone. A meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Monday is tasked with producing a deal that will keep Greece solvent and which is acceptable to both sides.

Britain's biggest supermarket Tesco (TSCO.L) could cut up to 10,000 jobs as part of its attempts to halt a slide in profits, a newspaper reported.