Economists urged "extreme caution" about reading too much into a strong rebound in retail sales last month, as chains were boosted by the hottest April on record, a glut of bank holidays and the Royal Wedding.

Peers call for competition inquiry into 'oligopoly' of Big Four firms

The Chancellor's attempt to kick-start the economy has had a mixed reception from the business community.

A monumental legal battle over the liquidation of the business empire of alleged fraudster Sir Allen Stanford will come to a head in the Caribbean courts this month.

The hopes of retailers ahead of the busiest shopping weekend of the year were raised yesterday by official figures suggesting sales were resilient in November, despite the snow disruption at the end of the month.

Hargreaves Lansdown; Vertu Motors

Bounce in activity in second half of 2009 not expected to be maintained

Watchdog says number of investigations has doubled as PwC is added to the list

For 30 years the ranks of the rich have swollen while politicians turned their fire on other targets. Andy McSmith reports on the prosperous tribes for whom the taxman cometh

Top rate rises to 50 per cent, while relief on pension contributions is cut

The GOvernment hopes to revive Britain's housing market with a series of initiatives to support homeowners, buyers and builders – but experts warned the measures were not enough on their own to generate a recovery.

LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds TSB, has hired PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to look at a £90m sale of National Accident Helpline.

The economic slowdown is deepening and a slew of indicators published today point to falling confidence, contracting markets and gloomy predictions for recovery.

Britain's economic slowdown has forced 11 chains to shut outlets this year and others are bound to follow