Week in pictures: December 14

On Thursday, the world's leading central banks tried again to ease the growing stress in the global money markets with coordinated action to provide $180bn (£100bn) in extra liquidity. The FTSE 100 initially moved higher on the news, but fell back at the close Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty

BHP Billiton came out fighting just two days after its target, Rio Tinto, under CEO Tom Albanese (pictured), went to the Takeover Panel asking for the predator to put up or shut up. Marius Kloppers, BHP chief executive, made a forceful presentation to investors, reiterating the strength of his three-for-one share proposal for Rio. But Rio said BHP's plan was still 'dead in the water'. Read the article Photograph: Newscast

The price of a bar of chocolate will rise significantly next year, Cadbury Schweppes has warned, blaming a 5-6% increase in the cost of raw materials including milk, oil and cocoa, which it plans to pass on to customers. Read the article Photograph: Newscast

Conrad Black has been sentenced to six and a half years in an American prison for abusing shareholders' trust through a sophisticated plot to embezzle $6.1m from his Hollinger media empire. Read the article Photograph: Jerry Lai/AP

London underground passengers are discarding nine-and-a-half tonnes of freesheet newspapers a day on three of the tube network's busiest lines, it has emerged. Read the article Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

After a year spent in the shadow of Nintendo's rival Wii console, Sony has cause for seasonal cheer as the gaming industry prepares for the most lucrative sales period of the year. Read the article Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP

The price of goods leaving Britain's factory gates leapt last month at the highest rate in 16 years, official data has shown, due to large increases in the price of petrol and food. Read the article Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty

Shell, the oil company that recently trumpeted its commitment to a low carbon future by signing a pre-Bali conference communique, has quietly sold off most of its solar business. Read the article Photograph: Walter Grubitzsch/EPA

Labour was in power, high oil prices were troubling policymakers and Led Zeppelin concerts were London's hot ticket the last time the unemployment claimant count was as low as the latest figures reported by the government. Read the article Photograph: Neal Preston/Corbis

Investment bank Merrill Lynch, which made millions of pounds bringing Sports Direct to the stockmarket, has publicly washed its hands of the discount sports chain and is urging investors to sell their shares. Read the article Photograph: David Sillitoe/Guardian