Business week in pictures

Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The Federal Reserve reaffirmed its promise to keep interest rates low for an 'extended period' while it waits for clear evidence of an upturn in the US economy Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP Photograph: Seth Wenig/guardian.co.uk Better-than-expected public finances last month have given Alistair Darling more room for some pre-election sweeteners in next week's budget Photograph: Carl de Souza/Reuters Photograph: Carl de Souza/guardian.co.uk Gordon Brown was given a helping hand in the run-up to the general election after it was revealed that the number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell by the biggest amount since Labour came to power 13 years ago Photograph: Chris Helgren/Reuters Photograph: Chris Helgren/guardian.co.uk Mortgage lending made a surprise recovery in February , increasing by 6% compared to the previous month, according to figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Photograph: Dan Kitwood/guardian.co.uk The strongest export books for 18 months are helping Britain's struggling manufacturers compensate for poor demand in the domestic market, the CBI said, with the sales of UK goods overseas helped by the weakness of the pound Photograph: David Levene Photograph: guardian.co.uk The picture was more mixed in other areas of the economy. Lending to British businesses fell at a record annual rate in January, in a sign that the economy's recovery from recession is still patchy Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Photograph: Oli Scarff/guardian.co.uk An Arriva Trains Wales train at Dovey Dyfi Junction. Arriva, the company that runs the rail franchise between Penzance and Aberdeen, has received a £1.2bn takeover bid from Deutsche Bahn , the German state-run transport group, just weeks after ending merger talks with French rail operator SNCF Photograph: Keith Morris/Alamy Photograph: Keith Morris/guardian.co.uk Unions welcomed the news that hundreds of jobs will be created in Sunderland where Nissan will build its electric car, the Leaf Photograph: Nissan/PA Photograph: Nissan/guardian.co.uk The Co-operative Group has seen profits surge as it attracted thousands of bank account customers disillusioned with Britain's big banks Photograph: David Sillitoe Photograph: guardian.co.uk FSA chairman Lord Adair Turner. The City's top regulator has called for curbs on 100% mortgages and a return to mortgage rationing to prevent another boom and bust in the housing market Photograph: Martin Argles Photograph: guardian.co.uk The case of a runaway Toyota Prius that took its driver on a 30-minute terror ride has been plunged into controversy after an official inquiry failed to find any problem with its accelerator Photograph: Reuters Photograph: guardian.co.uk Kraft made a humiliating public apology and vowed not to axe any UK manufacturing jobs for at least two years after it was accused by MPs of fighting dirty for control of Cadbury. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Photograph: Christopher Furlong/guardian.co.uk A British Airways plane takes off from London City Airport. A three-day strike by BA cabin crew is going ahead this weekend despite last-ditch talks between the airline and union Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Photograph: Dan Kitwood/guardian.co.uk Shell has come under fire over excessive executive pay again after the Anglo-Dutch oil group admitted it more than doubled the pension pot of former executive Linda Cook to almost $25m (£16.5m) last year Photograph: Adrian Dennis/Rex Features Photograph: Adrian Dennis/guardian.co.uk