UK Business News

Mortgage borrowers pay £4.9bn off loans

The third-quarter figures from the Bank of England add to fears that weak consumer spending could undermine the recovery

Investors fight to close down Cattles

A group of shareholders wants the doorstep lender to be wound up to pursue a legal case against some former employees

• Cattles to axe 500 jobs in battle for survival

• Cattles secures lifeline with £70m invoicing sale

Can Endsleigh tame price-comparison craze?

More old university scarf than old school tie, the insurer founded by the NUS wants to build ‘lifelong relationships’

• Ten ways to keep students solvent

• Stay on course to tame student debt

UK unemployment 'to peak at 2.8m next year'

The CIPD reduces its forecast from 3.2m but warns that a slower than expected recovery could result in more job losses

World Business News

America’s house price revival stutters

Big freeze descends on fledgling recovery, with flat figures for October as buyers are deterred from searching for homes

US studies banks’ handling of toxic assets

Amid accusations that investors were duped, regulators investigate financial instruments sold during economic crisis

• Prices slide as GM eradicates dead brands

• America’s house price revival stutters

Banks reject minister’s pleas over JAL

Japan's transport minister has apparently begged creditors to help Japan Airlines, which is buckling under £10bn of debt

• Airlines unite in fight for ‘gateway to Asia’

• Japan Airlines lands loan to keep collapse at bay

Nokia dispute with Apple heats up

The world's top mobile phone maker says iPhones, iPods and Apple computers violate its intellectual property rights

Analysis

Lord Mayor’s role needs a rethink

It doesn’t help that one of his main responsibilities is now facing strong competition from London’s other Mayor

• Don’t hold out for UK jobs returning here

• Bets that can push you over the edge

Next emerging economy, sub-Saharan Africa?

Region's growth rate is predicted to accelerate and help from China to make that happen will be mutually beneficial

Tempus: Don’t dismiss pharmaceuticals

It would be unfair to dismiss the healthcare sector, even though it is riven by uncertainties over new medicines

Law  

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

Dickensian ‘logbook loans’ to be banned

Kevin Brennan, the Consumer Minister, says lenders are able to seize cars from vulnerable borrowers without court orders

Money  

Recycle your Christmas and let virtually nothing go to waste

How to offload those unwanted gifts, trees, cards, faulty lights and even tin foil

• Copycat websites to rob shoppers of millions

• How to sell on eBay

How our readers stood up to the financial bullies

We revisit some of the victims of mis-selling, card fraud and collapsed banks to find out how they have fared

• The ten questions to ask before investing your hard-earned cash

• Could your bank have prevented fraud?

Join a countryside charity to get out and about on the cheap

We compare the deals on offer from the National Trust, English Heritage and the RSPB

business travel  

How business travellers take their holidays

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

US introduces hand luggage restrictions after alleged bomb plot

Transatlantic passengers will only be able to take one item on board

Flybe raises threshold for lounge access

Airline to nearly double the number of points required for a Premiercard but will allow a named guest from 1 January