Invest in sound bets – that’s what cash-rich US firms are looking for

Government defends itself against accusations of being Europe's onshore tax haven

Almost one in five smokers who have tried to kick the habit failed within 24 hours and more than half lasted less than a week, according to a poll of 6,200 current or former smokers.

Top executives from leading global firms face questions over their tax affairs by MPs on Monday

Studies of one of the most anticipated experimental drugs for Alzheimer's disease have been scrapped after it failed to help patients with the condition in a high-profile clinical trial.

Nestlé has secured its place as the biggest player in the worldwide baby food market with a $11.9bn (£7.4bn) deal to buy the drug maker Pfizer's infant-nutrition business.

Nestlé, the world's biggest food group, is closing in on a deal to buy Pfizer's baby food business for up to $10bn (£6bn) to boost its business in China and extend its lead in the world of formula milk.

Watson Pharmaceuticals, the New Jersey-based drug manufacturer, did not even wait for dawn before trumpeting its first shipments yesterday of Lipitor, the cholesterol-lowering pill that became the world's biggest selling medicine.

The makers of Nurofen Plus recalled the tablets last night and confirmed sabotage was suspected in packets of the painkillers.

The Government's second tranche of Enterprise Zones looked like a half-decent answer to yesterday's gloomy statistics showing unemployment at 2.5 million and rising at its fastest rate since the recession. Sadly, the case is unconvincing.

Drugs giant Pfizer is to retain around 350 jobs at the site of its doomed leading UK research centre, it has been announced.

The blue-chip index may have closed last night at its lowest level for nearly three months, but Tui Travel was sunning itself at the top of the leaderboard following renewed speculation the tour operator could be in line for an approach.

Falling sales of Pfizer's key cholesterol drug, Lipitor, in the face of generic competition hit sales at the American pharmaceuticals giants in the first quarter.