In Tune

Close but no cigar for B&B grandee

Hopes that Rod Kent's banking experience would aid B&B's rights issue were dashed when TPG pulled its plans for the bank

Shares tumble as global bear market takes grip

Leading shares around the world fell further into the grip of a global bear market as investors took flight from equities

Barratt to cut 1,000 jobs in building crisis

Redundancies in the construction industry hit nearly 2,300 in just two days amid dramatic slowdown in the housing market

Barratt jobs cuts take construction toll to 2,500

The housebuilder tells staff it will cut 1,000 staff, or 15 per cent of its workforce, as housing market woes deepen

FishWorks founder steps down from the board

The departure of Mitch Tonks, who founded the AIM-listed restaurant chain, has been described as 'a natural progression'

Cooking oil waste gives new twist to takeaway

Rocketing petrol prices have prompted a rash of grease thefts from outside fast food stores as demand for biodiesel grows

Bentley feels the slowdown as sales falter

Sales in the British-based luxury marque owned by Volkswagen fell 38 per cent as consumer confidence continues to worsen

Merrill Lynch says GM faces bankruptcy threat

Leading broker says the world's biggest carmaker is at risk of bankruptcy as market conditions make it hard to raise capital

Occupancy fears hit shares in Southern Cross

The UK care homes operator may have far more empty beds than shareholders previously believed, as shares fall 14.5 per cent

AstraZeneca beats challenge to $4.4bn drug

US court has blocked cheaper versions of blockbuster schizophrenia treatment Seroquel from sale until 2011

BHP bid for Rio Tinto investigated by EU

Europe has begun a full investigation into BHP Billiton's proposed $170 billion takeover of Rio Tinto, its major rival

Origin Energy rejects £13bn bid from BG Group

Australia's second-largest power retailer rejects a takeover bid by the UK oil and gas producer with hopes for better value

FishWorks founder steps down from the board

The departure of Mitch Tonks, who founded the AIM-listed restaurant chain, has been described as 'a natural progression'

Airlines could be 'unsustainable'

Moody's, the credit ratings agency, has said that many airlines, even the largest, could be forced into bankruptcy due to rising costs

Trinity Mirror hits back at City over pensions

The newspaper group rejected concerns that it may have to make substantial payments to help prop up its £1.5bn pension fund

TNS turns up the heat in bid battle with WPP

The world's third-largest market research provider has accused advertising giant WPP of circulating misleading comments

BHP bid for Rio Tinto investigated by EU

Europe has begun a full investigation into BHP Billiton's proposed $170 billion takeover of Rio Tinto, its major rival

Origin Energy rejects £13bn bid from BG Group

Australia's second-largest power retailer rejects a takeover bid by the UK oil and gas producer with hopes for better value

TNS turns up the heat in bid battle with WPP

The world's third-largest market research provider has accused advertising giant WPP of circulating misleading comments

Occupancy fears hit shares in Southern Cross

The UK care homes operator may have far more empty beds than shareholders previously believed, as shares fall 14.5 per cent

John Lewis blames 'delicate' economy

Patrick Lewis, director of retail operations at John Lewis, says there has been a notable fall in customer confidence

Cooking oil waste gives new twist to takeaway

Rocketing petrol prices have prompted a rash of grease thefts from outside fast food stores as demand for biodiesel grows

SCi raids broker for new finance director

Chairman of the games maker behind Tomb Raider is continuing his restructure by recruiting from KBC Peel Hunt

Yahoo! courts Time Warner over AOL tie-up

Yahoo! may be looking to combine with Time Warner's AOL in an effort to prevent future takeover attempts by Microsoft

Vodafone defeats Customs in £2bn tax fight

High court rules HMRC was wrong to try and tax Vodafone's Luxembourg subsidiary at UK corporation tax rates

Vodafone buys 70% stake in Ghana Telecom

The mobile operator pays $900m for controlling stake in Ghana Telecom as it continues to target emerging markets

‘I don’t think we’ve got the skill sets in this country’

He brought Eurostar to St Pancras on time and to budget. Martin Waller reports on how Rob Holden did it and the lessons he learnt

Bentley feels the slowdown as sales falter

Sales in the British-based luxury marque owned by Volkswagen fell 38 per cent as consumer confidence continues to worsen

Severn Trent may be forced to cut prices

Severn Trent could be forced to return £40m to customers as Ofwat prepares to bring further sanctions against the company

Severn Trent to pay £2m over false leak data

UK's second largest water group has been lambasted at the Old Bailey for a 'lack of honesty' in reporting leaks