UK Business News

Cautious 3i turns its back on new investments

Michael Queen, the chief executive of 3i, said that the group was particularly cautious in the uncertainty recently

OFT to investiage corporate insolvency fees

The watchdog is to begin an inquiry into the millions charged by accountants for winding up companies in administration

BT seeks to trim £1.5 billion in costs

Telecoms group reduced cost base by £900 million in the first six months, with half of the savings coming from job cuts

• BT profits tumble 45% as cost cutting swells

• Livingston getting BT back on line

SFO drops investigation into founder of Merlin

Sir Christopher Evans, the biotech entrepreneur, will not be prosecuted over allegations concerning Merlin Biosciences

World Business News

Disney cable operations spring a surprise

The multi-media company's movies and theme parks have shown a thin time, but the sports and TV channels lifted income

From $10 clothes to an $8 billion listing

Dollar General, the largest discount store in America, is poised to make its debut on New York’s Nasdaq stock exchange

• Boom time for discounters

• KKR buyout boosts Dollar chain shares

Intel pays $1.25bn to end feud with AMD

The world’s biggest chipmaker made the settlement with its rival to squash an antitrust case due to go to trial next year

• Intel accused of ‘coercion and bribery’

• Intel hit with antitrust lawsuit

Peugeot moves into car rental on way back to profit

Carmaker is to offer pre-paid cars by the day to young city dwellers as part its drive to regain market share

Analysis

BA taking a bit of a flyer with Iberia deal

There will be some opportunities for boosting revenues for the two airlines, but there are plenty of potential pitfalls

• Costs of going bust are heavy

• Still Cummings home to roost

Call for free Test matches could be a googly

David Davies will make recommendations on whether changes should be made to the events that have to be free to air

Tempus: Serco Group ... Amec ... Synergy Healthcare

Serco enjoys security of success ... Anticipation high at Amec ... Revenues up at Synergy Healthcare

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