UK Business News

Gulf Air could cost Rolls-Royce $1.5bn

The Bahrain-based airline is to renegotiate contracts with suppliers in attempt to save $2.65 billion over five years

Lloyd’s List group mulls bid for Springer

Informa, the professional publisher, has approached the German group over a potential takeover of a 49 per cent stake

• Informa . . . Dexion . . . Severfield-Rowen

• Informa snubs 'double tax' with Swiss move

School-leavers not up to the job, claims Rose

Employees are 'not fit for work', needing additional training despite record spending on education, M&S chairman says

• RBS chief Stephen Hester and his slice of humble pie

• IMF leader: there can be no more bailouts

Northumbrian rules out rights issue

Company’s figures were spelt out before Ofwat publishes its determination on water bills for the five years from April 2010

World Business News

GM warned against state 'subsidy race'

Brussels tells General Motors that it will not tolerate EU states competing to offer generous aid in return for safeguarding jobs

IMF leader: there can be no more bailouts

Democracy could be threatened if the public purse is raided to prop up the financial system, Dominique Strauss-Kahn warns

• School-leavers not up to the job, claims Rose

• US bailout firms ordered to cut pay

Japan flirts with disaster as debt deepens

With a ratio of gross debt to GDP above 170%, Japan’s debt position is viewed by some as extremely fragile

• Record price for penthouse may be pie in the sky

• Division grows as Japan faces deflation

South Africa’s golden age may soon be over

China toppled South Africa from its pedestal as the leading global gold producer in 2007. Others may soon also overtake it

Analysis

A gush of party leaders woo the CBI

All three main political party leaders turned up at the conference to court British business and all were appropriately gushy

• A fund of ideas with a frugal approach

• A rough ride ahead for National Express

Wm Morrison seeks successor to Marc Bolland

Speculation grows about candidates for supermarket job, with Waitrose boss Mark Price said to be among the contenders

Tempus: Mitie's orderly house bodes well

The FTSE 250 outsourcing specialist has lowered revenue forecasts, but investors believe that it can take slowdown in its stride

Law  

Lack of M&A business cuts Linklaters' revenue

Income at Britain’s second-biggest law firm has fallen by nearly 10 per cent to £591m in the six months to October 31

Straw pledges action to end libel tourism

Justice secretary says the large legal fees involved in defamation cases in English courts are jeopardising freedom of speech

• Think tank: The way to publish and not be damned

• Libel tourists flock to 'easy' UK courts

Legal profession set for historic reforms

In a landmark decision before a packed meeting, the barristers' profession ditched 800 years of working practices

• Braced for the big bang with the arrival of Tesco law

• Fitness test probes strength of new law firms

Money  

Be brave and buy the dollar

There is now only one trade in town - sell the ailing dollar and buy gold - but investors could fare well by going against the grain

• Don’t blow a bonus to join the property surge

• Have you missed the market rally?

Do the new living wills really bring peace of mind?

Solicitors claim that the new forms are simpler and cheaper, but mistakes can be costly

• Living wills give new rights to dementia victims

• How to make a will

Mortgages: a guide to the cheapest rates

Beleaguered brokers are staging a comeback with best-buy deals

business travel  

Heathrow's terminal 2 closes after 54 years

The old Europa Building will be demolished to make way for a 30 million passenger a year mega-terminal

Bmi revamps Diamond Club frequent flyer scheme

Airline adds family membership and unveils new rules for complimentary upgrades

Finnair launches mobile check-in and boarding passes

Passengers will now be able to proceed straight to the gate if they only have hand luggage