UK Business News

Fewer Britons expected to lose homes this year

Council of Mortgage Lenders cuts forecast for repossessions in 2009 amid a 3% rise in people losing their homes

SFO drops case against Sir Christopher Evans

After four-year inquiry, Serious Fraud Office decides not to prosecute biotech entrepreneur over Merlin Biosciences

Gender pay gap dips as women's pay rises

Government figures show pay inequality is shrinking but women still paid 16.4 per cent less than men

• Growth without inflation is a tricky task

• Surprise jobless figures boost economic outlook

OFT to investigate the high cost of going bust

Watchdog launches inquiry into UK's corporate insolvency market over fears companies are paying too much to go bankrupt

World Business News

High oil prices threaten economic recovery

Global demand is now on track for the the first year-on-year growth since the second quarter of last year

HP to buy 3Com for $2.7bn to take on Cisco

The deal to acquire 3Com will double Hewlett-Packard's presence in the global networking equipment market

• Hewlett-Packard sees signs of stability

• Hewlett-Packard to cut 700 jobs in Scotland

GM refused bailout funds from Germany

Car giant must refinance its European business, including Vauxhall and Opel, after its U-turn on plans to sell

• GM executives fly in to set Vauxhall’s future

• GM ‘toss of a coin’ decides fate of Vauxhall

AIG chief assures staff he will stay at insurer

In a letter to staff Robert Benmosche voiced frustration over Government-imposed cuts to pay but denied he would quit

Analysis

Loose legacy of fiscal tightening

Cuts in public spending, plus tax rises, should give the Bank some leeway in setting new interest rates

• Reed Elsevier's curious dilemma

• Sir John Rose proves a cool engineer

Radical approach to financial regulation required

Five years ago, central bankers and regulators thought we knew how to set capital requirements. Now we know we don’t

Tempus: Great Portland stands out

The London-listed property developer's interim results provide tangible evidence that the trough has passed

Law  

Baby RB to be allowed to die as father concedes

Father withdraws his opposition to doctors plea for severely disabled one-year-old boy to be taken off life support

Ofsted hid crucial evidence on Baby P sacking

Documents that Sharon Shoesmith was told 'did not exist' emerged only after Freedom of Information request lodged

Downturn makes no dent in pay of top lawyers

While smaller firms are reining in payments to partners, at leading City law firms, hundreds earned more than £1 million

Money  

Retirement home landlords are accused of profiteering

Pensioners are fighting back and lobbying Parliament with concerns over excessive charges

• Residents urged to fight back against retirement home charges

• Angry leaseholders count mounting cost of repairs

Mortgage rates fall but loan restrictions tighten

Woolwich introduces restrictions to protect against base rate rises as it introduces new deals for borrowers with a 25 per cent deposit

Where will the stock market be at the end of 2010?

We ask the experts for their predictions and stock and fund tips for the next 12 months

• Funds to put your finances on the right track

• Stars pilloried in ‘dog funds’ list

business travel  

Profile: Toptable's Karen Hanton

An upgrade to first class? No thanks. The restaurant booking website founder explains why

Business travellers of the world unite! Well Britain anyway...

Travel agency body launches survey as it seeks to influence political parties in the run-up to the General Election

The world's oddest airport lounges

Lounges for dogs and children sound bizarre but they don't come close. Wait till you hear about Finnair's new Helsinki facility