The embattled pub group Punch Taverns has proposed a radical restructuring of its £2bn-plus debt mountain, and posted improved trading.

Outlook The press release was effusive. Britannia and Co-op Financial Services "unveil plans for super-mutual". The merger was to create "a unique" (that's always a worrying word), "ethical" (ditto), alternative to the nasty big banks.

The German banking giant Commerzbank yesterday finally gave up its four-year legal war with 104 London investment bankers who have been fighting for €52m (£44m) in unpaid bonuses.

The American economy expanded at a rate of 2.5 per cent in the first three months of the year, according to new figures released today, performing far better than at the end of 2012 but missing expectations as falling government spending proved a drag on growth.

The outgoing boss of the housebuilder Persimmon racked up a maximum bonus of more than £1m last year, the company's annual report showed yesterday.

Plus: Who, in the name of Jaws 2, is this Diane James?

Home ownership in the UK is at its lowest level since the mid-1980s, figures show.

The housebuilder Barratt Developments more than doubled profits and enjoyed a bullish start to 2013, racking up £1.1bn in orders during the first eight weeks of the year.

A shot in the arm for the mortgage market from the Bank of England's Funding for Lending (FLS) scheme and government initiatives left two of Britain's biggest housebuilders on distinctly bullish form yesterday.

Royal Mail staff could end up owning a tenth of the group when it becomes the biggest privatisation since the 1980s, according to reports over the weekend.

The investor roadshow for the flotation of housebuilder Crest Nicholson moves to the UK this week, as its chief executive Stephen Stone tries to seal a valuation of up to £580m for the group.

Company profit warnings jumped to their highest level since the height of the financial crisis last year amid fears over the economy and slower-than-expected demand from China.

Britain's biggest housebuilder was on bullish form today as it unveiled plans for an extra 1,000 homes in London and said it would more than double annual profits.

Nearly two-thirds of property owners believe house prices will rise over the next six months