UK Business News

EasyJet profits to slide 43% as fuel costs bite

The budget airline warned today that, despite offsetting half its soaring jet fuel bill, profits will slide 43% this year

M&S's Rose faces new pressure as funds gather

Local authority funds group threatens to take action against Sir Stuart Rose's appointment as executive chairman

• M&S claims bag victory despite cost fears

• Marks and Spencer faces City's biggest revolt

Kingfisher UK sales rebound on sunny weather

B&Q owner reports rising trade in outdoor furniture and barbecues, though China revenues slump on housing downturn

Corporate jet orders keep Rolls-Royce purring

Aero-engine maker says orders are up 17% as corporate sector stays resilient despite high oil price and global slowdown

World Business News

Microsoft online chief exits after Yahoo! failure

Senior management shake-up at Microsoft reveals the extent of the group's disarray following failed bid for Yahoo!

Qualcomm shares jump 20 per cent on Nokia deal

Nokia has settled a long-running legal dispute with the chipmaker by agreeing royalty payment terms until 2022

• Qualcomm fights to set mobile TV standard

• Qualcomm takes double-hit on patents

Credit Suisse powers back into the black

Swiss bank shares jump 7% as it recovers from shock first-quarter loss sparked by toxic debt investments

• Credit Suisse reports big quarterly losses

• Credit Suisse to cut 75 jobs in latest cutbacks

Ford pins hopes on small cars for survival

As the auto maker's truck business stalls amid soaring fuel prices, Ford's second quarter loss reached $8.7bn

Analysis

A more favourable wind is picking up

Now down about 14 per cent on its record level set less than two weeks ago, could this be the tipping point for oil?

• Oil price boost for British Energy deal

• Sportech is well worth a punt

McDonald's breakthrough in France

The French are learning to love the American chain, a sign of what is to come as the world goes in search of budget food

Tempus: Mining ... BT

Mining in China and India expected to experience only a slight slowdown ... BT sector to underperform for some time

Money 

Student charged £800 for going 8p into the red

Lloyds TSB criticised for threatening 20-year-old with legal action as FSA extends unfair charges waiver

• Bank charges claims left in limbo

• Overdraft charges make banks £2.5 billion

Tax tips for getting through the crunch

With record inflation and huge increases in the cost of servicing mortgage debt, consumers are feeling the pinch

• Credit crunch: the Times jury

• Credit crunch hits homes in the sun

The remortgage diaries

Follow the progress of three families desperately searching for new home loans amidst the credit crunch

Law 

Mosley delighted at victory in 'Nazi' sex case

Formula One boss wins his privacy case against News of the World over accusations of sadistic orgies

• Background: Mosley orgies and missing emails

• Mosley: what happened at the orgies

'Fake Facebook profile' victim awarded £22,000

A man who sued a former school friend for creating a fake profile on the social networking site has won his libel case

• Parents to be punished for children’s net piracy

• Keep track of friends with Facebook's new look

UBS faces New York lawsuit

The US Attorney is preparing civil securities fraud charges relating to the bank's role in the auction rate securities market

business travel 

When business trips get dangerous

Despite new legislation on corporate responsibility, many firms show a worrying disregard for their business travellers

Review: Wyndham Grand Chelsea Harbour

This all-suite five-star property is right by the Thames between Heathrow and the City

Profile: Dominic Lowe of Green & Black's

How does the boss of a company which wears its green credentials on its sleeve justify travelling around the world on business?