UK Business News

Cadbury workers demand Kraft details

Union writes to US group asking for pledge that no sites will be closed if bid goes ahead

• Paulson proves sweet on Cadbury

• Cadbury has support to turn down hostile bid

Smaller companies struggle to find loans for growth

Thirty-three per cent of businesses said that it had become more difficult to secure credit in the past three months

• Still battling to get funding

• What UK business think of Copenhagen

Another year of pay freezes expected across UK

On a positive note, companies operating a recruitment freeze has dropped from 61 per cent in the spring to 37 per cent

Investors desert poor rates on cash deposits

Wealthy investors have moved almost £3 billion into stock and bond funds during September as they chase higher returns

World Business News

US gun sales shoot up amid crime fears

Buyers are concerned that rising unemployment will lead inexorably to higher crime rates

• Gun-bearers put Obama president in cross hairs

• American gun lobby seeks to revive Wild West

Mallorca expats hit by £20m ‘fraudster’

Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into a fund controlled by British financier John Hirst

• Fears of new Madoff-style fraud rock Mallorca expats

• FSA to step up hunt for fraudsters

Google backtracks on putting world’s books online

The search giant has cut in half its plans to become the world's biggest online library in a legal move to appease critics

Shipping groups push up rates by 25%

International freight charges to rocket in lead-up to Christmas as companies try to claw back income lost in downturn

Analysis

Small business needs help not warm words

It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week but practical help from the Government is hard to come by

A British baker that caters to the average bloke

As banks teeter, media companies flounder, entire nations inch towards bankruptcy, Greggs is thriving

Execution of Business

Governments must be able in future to spot and close failing banks early

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  

Building Societies warn of higher mortgage costs

Tighter regulations on lending will see increased costs passed on to borrowers, the BSA warns

• Fewer Britons expected to lose homes

• Mortgage rates fall but loan restrictions tighten

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

Britons too optimistic about retirement

Just a third of people accept they will have to work beyond 65, even though the state pension age is set to rise

• Savers let down by workplace pension schemes

• Ten tips to make pensions work harder

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