UK Business News

Shell plans £3bn sale in Nigeria

The oil giant is shaking-up its controversial operations in Nigeria by offering oilfields valued at up to $5bn for sale

Cinema ticket takings hit £1 billon mark

Ticket sales at British cinemas will reach a milestone thanks to a slew of blockbuster releases, including 3D film Avatar

ONS data suggests recession is already over

Figures to be released are set to show that the recession all but ended in the third quarter of the year, economists say

£193m write-off for radio group

The owner of Classic FM and Heart has had to inject extra cash to reduce a debt pile as trading slowly starts to recover

World Business News

BP to challenge $100m ruling in Texas

Oil group says that it is 'shocked and outraged' by court ruling in favour of ten workers after refinery incident

Euromoney’s top in line for £30m windfall

Business publisher Euromoney Institutional Investor will ask shareholders to back an incentive plan for its top employees

• Euromoney still suffering under downturn

• Informa shares tumble on Springer approach

Williams chases debt from sponsor Hamleys

The Formula One racing team is claiming £10m from estate of Iceland’s collapsed bank Glitnir in a sponsorship deal row

• Government takes control of Icelandic bank

• SFO to investigate Kaupthing for fraud

Banks worldwide mull over Dubai bailout

Hundreds of bankers from all over the world will flood into Dubai to meet representatives of the struggling emirate

• UAE minister claims Dubai crisis is over

• Emaar pulls out of Dubai Holding rescue merger

Analysis

Challenges that lie ahead are very real

If you take the view that next year will be bumpy, take a look at the Bank of England’s last Financial Stability Report

This year could have been a lot worse

Anything could have happened to the banking system, an even worse crisis was averted, for which credit is due to authorities

Citi’s troubles begin with the boss

The bank's $20bn stock-offering did little to reassure investors that the bank would ever regain its global footing

Law  

Lawyers grow rich on NHS negligence

The rise of no-win, no-fee actions has been blamed for more payouts ending up in the pockets of claimants’ representatives

BBC settles Trafigura case with £25,000 damages

The oil-trading company accepted the settlement over claims it caused deaths, miscarriages and sickness in Ivory Coast

• Trafigura report on dumped waste revealed

• Oil firm drops gagging order after outrage

Lovells' partners vote for US merger

The tie-up with Hogan & Hartson will create the world's ninth-biggest law firm with turnover of £1.1bn

Money  

Cheques to disappear within eight years

The move is a blow for millions of older people and small businesses

• Will the humble cheque bounce back?

• What high street banking will look like in 2020

Housing market slows after five months of growth

At £198,450, average house prices were 2.2 per cent lower in October than in October 2008, according to the DCLG index

• House price rally began to slow in October

• Not everyone is enjoying a house price bounce

Inflation surge eats into savers' returns

Only a handful of savings accounts promise a real return on deposits when the effect of inflation is taken into account

business travel  

Eurostar services 'to operate normally' this weekend despite strike

Journeys on Friday and Saturday should not be disrupted despite union action over expenses

Hilton hikes Hhonors points for free nights

Hotel group goes against the recent trend of more generous guest loyalty programmes

Profile: Leisure boss John Morphet

The man who runs the estate where Freddie Flintoff and Wayne Rooney have homes shares his views on business travel