News and Information

Bank governor in Help to Buy warning
The outgoing Bank of England governor warns a government plan to boost the housing market with part-mortgage guarantees has no long-term place.

Ofcom plans simplified phone numbers
Some people are "put off" making important calls because of confusion over the amount they will be charged, according to the telecoms regulator.

Contactless 'charging errors' at M&S
Some Marks and Spencer customers say its contactless payment terminals have taken cash from cards other than the ones intended for payment.

Morrisons agrees deal with Ocado
Morrisons, the UK's fourth largest supermarket chain, says it will launch online shopping by January 2014 after agreeing a tie-up with Ocado.

Europe car sales break losing streak
Car sales across Europe rose in April for the first time in 18 months, helped by strong demand in the UK and by the early Easter break.

Public sector pensions face big hit
Four million public sector employees will see a dramatic reduction in the overall value of their pension schemes, a new report claims.

Ofcom: 'Too many' nuisance calls
UK households are receiving too many nuisance calls, according to the telecoms regulator, Ofcom.

Lloyds shares hit break-even point
Lloyds Banking Group's share price passes 61.2p in morning trading, the break-even point for the government's investment in the group.

Jockey Club hits its bond target
The Jockey Club hits its £15m Racecourse Bond target and extends the application window until 28 May.

Spain reports monthly trade surplus
Spain records its first monthly trade surplus in more than 40 years as demand for imports dries up.

Turkish bonds yield at record low
Turkish bond yields have hit new lows as investors greeted Moody's increase in the country's credit rating to investment grade.

Hayward appointed Glencore chairman
Glencore Xstrata shareholders vote to appoint Tony Hayward, BP's former chief executive, as interim chairman to replace Sir John Bond.

China's Sina Corp sees loss narrow
Sina, which runs China's biggest micro-blogging site, sees losses narrow in the first three months of the year as revenues rise.

MPs challenge Google over UK tax
The internet giant Google has been challenged by MPs over the way it reports its income for tax.

RBS to cut a further 1,400 jobs
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is to cut a further 1,400 jobs from its retail banking head office over the next two years.

Economic benefits of HS2 questioned
The HS2 rail project has an estimated £3.3bn funding gap and the benefits for the economy are "unclear", the National Audit Office says.

Man lists 12,000 call menu options
An IT manager who grew frustrated with call centre menus has catalogued shortcuts to thousands of phone services

HMRC wins Goldman Sachs court case
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has won its case in the High Court, where it had been accused of illegally letting investment bank Goldman Sachs off part of its tax bill.

Fuel poverty gap widens
The UK's so-called "fuel poverty gap" is widening, although the total number in fuel poverty has fallen, according to a government report.

Eurozone and US inflation falls
Inflation in both the 17-strong eurozone bloc and the US falls to its lowest level in years.

Chancellor to stay on economic path
Chancellor George Osborne tells business leaders at the CBI that he will not deviate from the government's economic road to reducing the deficit.

Bank of England upgrades forecasts
The Bank of England upgrades its economic growth forecast, but separate figures show a rise in UK unemployment.

Dell posts 79% fall in profits
Dell reports a 79% fall in quarterly profits to $130m (£85m) amid falling computer sales and a takeover battle.

Wal-Mart and Asda see profits rise
The world's biggest retailer Wal-Mart, which owns the UK chain Asda, says profits in the three months to April nudged higher.

BP asks Cameron to curb US leak cost
BP appeals to Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene over the escalating compensation costs of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.

Dravid 'shock' over cricket arrests
India batsman Rahul Dravid is shocked after three of his Rajasthan Royals IPL stars are arrested over spot-fixing claims.

Honda to supply 2015 McLaren engines
Japanese car manufacturer Honda will return to Formula 1 in 2015 as engine suppliers to the McLaren team.

Olympic venue's future secured
More than 4,500 jobs are to be created as the final venue to be permanently based in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has its future secured.

VIDEO: Inside the human robot factory
Roboticist Will Jackson of Engineered Arts gives a tour of his robot factory in Cornwall, and talks about recent developments in the industry.

VIDEO: Turkey's 'Italian' makeover underway
At a time of economic doom and gloom across much of Europe - the credit rating for Turkey has been upgraded.

VIDEO: Hugh’s review: Is the economy turning?
Hugh Pym and guests discuss the Bank of England's optimistic forecasts on growth and inflation

VIDEO: Europe on road to more austere measures?
Europe's GDP shrank by 0.2% in the first three months of this year as politicians debate whether to carry on with austerity plans or to change course.

VIDEO: Morrisons announces deal with Ocado
Morrisons has agreed a deal with internet grocer Ocado as it prepares to offer shoppers the option to buy good online.

VIDEO: Mega-ships head for shipping firm
Danish shipping firm Maersk Line is taking delivery of 20 of the world's largest ships, despite posting a drop in earnings.

VIDEO: WTO trade talks 'must go on'
India's commerce minister says that the latest round of global trade talks must go on - a collapse would be "disastrous" for the world economy.

VIDEO: European week in 60 seconds
The political week in Europe is reviewed in 60 seconds by David Thompson who looks back over the headlines from London, Strasbourg and Brussels, including the EU budget, fishing numbers, alleged price fixing in the oil market, and European staff set to go on strike.

Should we all be more psychopathic?
Should we all be more psychopathic at work?

The great credit card takeaway
Fraudsters con people into handing over their plastic

Turkey booms but where are the Brits?
But are British firms making the most of the opportunity?

Europe's outlook: Cheer or jeer?
Should we cheer or jeer at Europe's prospects?

Running a business Q&A
Send us questions on building a new business from old tech

Quantifying the benefits of HS2
How will HS2 produce £48.2bn in benefits to society?

Global brand who remained the genuine article
Global icon who became a byword for marketability

Bringing Lebanon's designers online
Selling online where internet speeds are painfully slow

Tunisia Viewpoint
An apology to Rached Ghannouchi