UK Business News

Next plays down consumer rebound

Next reported better than expected trading figures but said there were threatening economic stormclouds on the horizon

Home Delivery Network buys DHL parcel division

Delivery company owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay is to create competitor to Royal Mail with £600 million turnover

• Barclay brothers plan Woolworths return

• Last post sounds for the Royal Mail

Bracelet sweetens Links of London float plan

Popular jewellery item, with its many imitators, and its scope for further sales helps to drive revenue at retail chain

• Links jewellery king and queen strike gold

• John Ayton and Annoushka Ducas

Asda steps up price war with 3,600 reductions

Supermarket reduces prices of 3,600 items by an average of 13 per cent, increasing the pressure on Tesco

World Business News

Japanese finance chief ready to quit

Hirohisa Fujii, 77, is unwell and battling against fatigue, raising questions about the robustness of the Government

Apple hits three billion App Store downloads

Sales of applications for company's phones and music players increase by 50 per cent in less than 18 months

• Google takes on the Apple iPhone

• Can Apple repeat iPod success with 'iSlate'?

US pending home sales data falls sharply

Pending Home Sales Index, based on sales contracts signed, fell 16% in November, undermining hopes for a sustained recovery

• US factory orders jump 1.1% in November

• America’s house price revival stutters

Mixed sales data from US carmakers

US carmakers reported mixed results after a rollercoaster year which saw General Motors and Chrysler go through bankruptcy

Analysis

The art of controlling contrition

It is ten years since the disastrous sale of Time Warner to AOL, which Jerry Levin has now apologised for

• Debate on planning deserves house room

• Bitter taste of approach for confectioner

Tempus: Premier Oil hints at top-league strategy

A deal for Premier to take a 50 per cent stake in Serica Energy’s Oates prospect caught the investors’ attention

‘Parasite economy’ lies behind Greek tragedy

Greece's financial predicament raises questions of whether the eurozone can hold together if one member stumbles

Law  

Secret courts to be opened to media

Court of Public Protection, which deals with the vulnerable, attempts to restore public confidence after hundreds of complaints

Thousands to be saved from losing homes

The Government plans to close a legal loophole that allows mortgage lenders to seize homes without getting a court order

Camra calls on consumers in pub fight

Campaign for Real Ale vows to launch legal challenge to OFT ruling that big pub companies are not behaving anti-competitively

Money  

How to save £5,000 in 2010

With various ways to save money, a gloomy economy does not have to consume your household finances

• Mortgage rises bring holiday to abrupt end

• 10 easy steps to a prosperous new year

Time to switch to a fixed rate mortgage

The Bank of England could increase the interest rate in spring, but what does it mean for loans and savings

• How you can still win in a sluggish property market

• Mortgage borrowers pay £4.9bn off loans

Twenty top trades to help beat the market

With the prospect of rising interest rates, investors will need to be cautious and inventive as they face a volatile year

business travel  

Profile: Telecoms boss Ian Carr

The MD of Team Simoco explains why he always packs his pyjamas and discusses the company's Beijing sickbed

Stop moaning about travel disruption, it's Christmas

Business travellers have faced trying times in the past two weeks but many of the problems are beyond the control of the airlines and rail companies

How business travellers take their holidays

With Christmas upon us, we look at how frequent business travellers approach leisure travel