UK Business News

Shopping centre projects delayed

Constricted credit is behind the decline in development. Retail centre floor space under construction is half that of last year

Dickensian ‘logbook loans’ to be banned

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

• How to find the cheapest loan

• Time to crush loan-shark revival

More house price rises seen despite squeeze

RICS says despite expected tightening next year the surge in demand for property will lead to an increase in sales

• More house price rises seen despite squeeze

• Darling snubs first-time buyers

Snow freezes out Christmas shoppers

BIggest shopping weekend of the year saw 6.9 per cent fewer Christmas shoppers than the corresponding weekend last year

World Business News

Carbon prices fall over Copenhagen deadlock

A surplus of permits to emit 100 million tonnes of greenhouse gases is hanging over Europe’s carbon market

Exports to avert double-dip recession in Japan

Economists say exports to China and the central bank's 'war on deflation' may spare Japan from recession next year

• Japan keeps pouring money into ailing economy

• Dubai World's debt fuels Japanese anxiety

Spyker extends deadline for Saab offer

The Dutch carmaker, 30 per cent owned by Vladimir Antonov, the tycoon, gives GM more time to consider its latest offer

• GM sells Saab production lines to China's BAIC

• Saab buyer backs out leaving 3,000 jobs hanging

Microsoft's finance chief goes to General Motors

Carmaker has continued its top-level management shake-up by appointing Chris Liddell chief financial officer

Analysis

CAT’s ruling declaws monopoly body

Even BAA was surprised that the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled in favour of its appeal against the Competition Commission

• Revenue not to blame for bad policy

• Our incomes will be indisposed in 2010

Ghost of Christmas Future has cheer on houses

The commentators say ‘Bah, humbug' about the fledgeling revival in prices, but this story is heading for a happy ending

Tempus: Cairn warmed by Greenland investment

Share boost for energy group as it brings forward offshore drilling project, though this is a journey into the unknown

Law  

Law Society starts action over costs

The society has accused the Government of power misuse by preventing acquitted defendants from recouping costs

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

• Loopholes skew system

• Lawyers get more than victims in NHS compensation scandal

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

Money  

Outside bets to beat the market

Experts are almost unanimous that the sweet spot for shares will be driven by strong growth in developing markets in 2010

• Where next for the stock market lost decade?

• Top investment themes for the next 10 years

First Capital Connect wins Scrooge of the Year 2009

Alistair Darling, MPs and British Airways also won a lot of your votes

• Rail nightmare for Gatwick and Luton

• Flight prices still soar over BA strike fears

Which supermarket has the best-value Christmas shopping?

From the turkey to the mince pies, it pays to shop around. Times Money visited five stores to find the top deals.

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