UK Business News

Cosmens swoop on National Express shares

The Spanish family's third share purchase since Friday increases the pressure on the board ahead of its rights issue

New fall in business investment fuels worry

A further decline in firms' spending on their infrastructure has heightened concern about Britain's economic recovery

Telent shuts £2.5bn pension scheme

The former Marconi unit, now owned by Pension Corporation, agrees a new 15-year funding plan for 56,000 members

• Regulator attacks Pension Corporation

• Telent sale on hold after vote share row

Mortgage approvals soar by 98% in October

A surge in the number of new home loans gives further hope of a turnaround for Britain's battered property market

World Business News

Emergency loan averts Japan Airlines failure

A state-backed bank has thrown a lifeline to Asia's biggest carrier, even though many Japanese see it as a lost cause

Galleon founder denies insider trading

Rajaratnam accuses investigators of violating his constitutional rights during Government's probe into an insider trading ring

• Galleon's Rajaratnam seeks to unseal Khan records

• Fourteen more charged in Galleon insider trading investigation

Heinz sells UK frozen desserts business

The American producer of baked beans takes a loss on sale of private-label supplier as it focuses on branded foods

• Supermarkets make you buy what you don’t need

• Supermarkets cut pack size but not price

Two executed over Chinese milk scandal

Anger as former head of state-run dairy company gets life sentence for role in laced-milk scam that killed six babies

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  

Victims turned away because of legal aid squeeze

Lawyers are turning away vulnerable clients because they have exhausted caps on legal aid spending

Straight couple aim to form a civil partnership

Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle want the same rights as a husband and wife but not in an institution closed to gays

• Married couples in minority as rates plummet

• Come out, come out, wherever you are

Arrests are being made 'to expand DNA files'

Report says police are routinely arresting people simply to record their DNA profiles on the national database

Money  

Five tricks banks use to cut savings

Savers are seeing returns eroded by rising inflation while banks are using sneaky methods to reduce rates still further

• Santander Zero free current account ‘sting’

• Savers denied the best rates

Wealthy dump pensions for high-risk schemes

Venture capital trusts set to become saving plan of choice when the government restricts tax relief on pensions from next year

• Can experts really boost my income?

• Ways to rest easier in retirement

Dental care: what you are entitled to

Do you know what you are eligible for on the NHS and how much you should pay?

business travel  

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

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