UK Business News

Center Parcs swings toward float

The group is to renegotiate the terms of its £1 billion debt pile in a move that could pave the way for a flotation of the holiday company

Tycoon swoops on City broker

Neil Utley, the entrepreneur who made millions from the sale of his insurance empire, has emerged as a bidder for KBC Peel Hunt

• Calls to oust KBC director amid row over pay

• Banking minnow cashes in on crisis

Kraft on the rack over jobs

Executives will face questions over its decision to close the Somerdale plant near Bristol with the loss of 400 jobs

• Kraft inquiry hits Takeover Panel succession

• Kraft under investigation over Cadbury factory pledge

Guardian group to take £150m hit on Emap

The company is preparing to take a £150m loss on the value of its investment in Emap, the publisher and events organiser

World Business News

German are bosses behind the wheel for Britain

Things might be going well for German chief executives here but what would happen if the spanner were in the other hand?

Ailing Blockbuster sells European arm

The company has appointed Winchester Capital, an American corporate finance house, to find a buyer for the European operation

• Blockbuster to shut 960 US stores

• Viacom records sharp fall in earnings to $277m

Agnellis target London property

The Italian industrialists behind Fiat are to back an investment fund headed by Mike Hussey, the commercial property player

• Alison Carnwath: Shake-up queen of property

• Ex-Land Secs man plans £500m fund

How new markets let women reach the top

Women in emerging economies such as India are smashing glass ceilings in a way westerners can only dream of

ANALYSIS

If the story is good, investors will buy it

What they will not buy are highly leveraged businesses at top prices simply to provide an exit for private equity owners

Tricks of the Trade

British firms lead the way in financial services but criticism in the report on the collapse of Lehmans reminds them to follow the example of Sir Brian Pitman

Tempus: Where to invest, from A to Z

Should you take a punt on economic recovery and buy British shares, or will the UK’s anaemic growth lead you overseas?

Law  

Berezovsky wins High Court libel damages

The Russian businessman accused of involvement in the murder of Litvinenko four years ago has received a £150,000 payout

Libel laws 'silenced critic of lie detector'

An academic claims that a paper challenging a voice analysis system was withdrawn after legal threats from its makers

Lawyer of the Week: Jessica Learmond-Criqui

The lawyer who acted for Stephanie Booth who successfully sued for unfair dismissal after losing her job for whistleblowing

Money  

NHS car park charges add to patient distress

Crowded and expensive hospital car parks add to the stress of medical appointments for half of visitors, according to Which?

Ex-cab driver convicted of £34m fraud

Kevin Foster attracted cash at roadshows where he promised high returns on gambling and network marketing schemes

Credit card fraud down but online crime rises

Criminals switch attention from cheques and plastic to internet transactions

• One Briton in eleven 'has been scammed'

• Banks drag feet on fraud

business travel  

Passport photo nightmares: a positive outcome

Anyone who has renewed their passport recently will know the ridiculous photo guidelines. Yet the pain will be forgotten when you try an ePassport gate

Profile: Philanthropist Matt Stockdale

Former Homepride boss talks about giving away money, hotel horror stories and eating poached frogs

Qantas cuts back on first class

Australian carrier is responding to long-term decline in premium travel