Week in pictures

Alistair Darling forced Britain's drinkers to foot the bill for Labour's crusade to eradicate child poverty, as his first budget as chancellor revealed the impact of the global credit crunch on the government's already tight finances. (Read the article) Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Airport operator BAA has quenched its thirst for cash, at least temporarily, by selling its chain of 58 duty-free shops to Italy's Autogrill. (Read the article) Photograph: Don McPhee/Guardian

UK housebuilder calls on for a swift cut in interest rates as it admits it is struggling to sell new houses this year. (Read the article) Photograph: Newscast

Marks & Spencer has promoted chief executive Sir Stuart Rose to executive chairman in breach of City corporate governance codes. (Read the article) Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Gold leapt to another historic high - above $1000 on the futures market - as investors rushed to buy the precious metal to protect against losses from the tumbling US dollar and record oil prices (Read the article) Photograph: Tom Schierlitz/Getty

An army of lawyers, financiers and the taxman will share a £130m payout from Cadbury Schweppes when the maker of Creme Eggs and Trident gum demerges its US fizzy drinks business in May. (Read the article) Photograph: Gabriel Szabo/Newscast

The Bank of England, headed by governor Mervyn King, moved to stabilise the markets on Monday, March 17 2008, offering £5bn of three-day funds in a move designed to bring overnight interest rates down. Banks scrambled for the cash, asking for nearly five times more than was on offer. The BoE said that along with other central banks it was “closely monitoring market conditions”. (Read the story) Photograph: Graham Turner/Guardian

Airline passengers using Britain's biggest airports have been warned by carriers to expect higher fares following a turnaround by the industry regulator on landing fees. (Read the article) Photograph: Sam Frost/AP

One of America's largest pediatric institutes, the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is facing angry protests over a decision to grant 'naming rights' to Abercrombie & Fitch in return for a $10m donation. (Read the article) Photograph: Tim Boyle/Getty

Former cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt is joining BT as a non-executive director later this month, augmenting her MP's salary with at least another £60,000 a year. (Read the article) Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA