The World Bank is temporarily blacklisting and fining two subsidiaries of French engineering firm Alstom over bribes allegedly offered to gain a power-plant contract in Zambia.

Business activity in the euro zone contracted unexpectedly in February, reviving fears that the region is heading for recession.

The Irish government identified up to €3 billion in state-owned assets it plans to sell to meet a requirement of its international bailout, saying it struck an agreement that will enable it use about one third of the privatization receipts to boost jobs

The ECB's agreement to transfer profits from its Greek bond holdings to national governments likely will leave Athens with only some of the $5 billion the bonds are expected to generate over the next three years.

Barrett Business Services, Inc. has promoted Gregory Vaughn from vice president to the newly created role of chief administrative officer, effective immediately, the Vancouver-based company said Tuesday.

The Port of Vancouver is offering tours of its operations in honor of its 100th birthday, which is this year. The first "Centennial Public Tour" kicks off at noon Thursday at the port' main office, 3103 N.W. Lower River Road.

Greece's bailout and debt-restructuring deal spawned some relief, but the overriding reaction was one of unease that the tough agreement, which has already generated huge opposition, is bound to fail.

Financial markets that had long been captivated by the Greek drama barely shrugged in response to news of an agreement—and certainly didn't register any bouts of relief.

The U.K. government-bond market—already seen as a haven—appears even safer. January's official borrowing figures revealed the country's austerity program is more than on track.

Hines, one of the world's largest real-estate groups in terms of assets, is preparing to spend $1.6 billion on buildings in the U.K., doubling its assets in the country in an effort to diversify away from riskier acquisitions.