Leading shares ended the year and the decade on a positive note, with the FTSE 100 finishing a half day of New Year’s Eve trading up 15.02 points at 5412.88.
Although it just missed out on regaining the pre-Lehman level reached earlier this week, the index has recorded a 22% gain for the year, its best [...]
• GDP per person is £225 lower than in 2005• UK living standards trail those in US by 25%
The recession has pushed living standards in Britain to below the 2005 general election level, a leading thinktank says as it warns that the country faces a “new age of austerity”.
Although many economists think the [...]
Turnaround in 2009 ends a decade when house prices more than doubled, but the outlook for 2010 is highly uncertain
House prices rose 5.9% in 2009, figures showed today, as the UK housing market surprised commentators by bouncing back from last year’s double-digit falls.
The Nationwide building society said the average price of a home in the [...]
‘If you want a brave, new banking world I fear I’ll disappoint you. I want 2010 to be dull and boring!’ said Angela Knight, chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association
British banking’s most senior representative has claimed that the government risks destroying the industry through its clampdown on City pay and “casino” banking.
Angela Knight, chief [...]
From dotcoms to the Dubai debt crisis: the biggest business stories of the last 10 years
Alastair Dant
• GDP per person is £225 lower than in 2005• UK living standards trail those in US by 25%
The recession has pushed living standards in Britain to below the 2005 general election level, a leading thinktank says as it warns that the country faces a “new age of austerity”.
Although many economists think the [...]
Shell disappointed at Hague court ruling on Oruma oil spill compensation case
A judge in the Netherlands has opened the door to a potential avalanche of legal cases against Shell over environmental degradation said to be caused by its oil operations in the Niger Delta.
The oil group expressed “disappointment” tonight that a court in The Hague [...]
• Becalmed FTSE 100 on track to end 2009 22% higher than a year ago• Japanese shares hit by fears over Japan Airlines future
World stock markets appear to have run out of steam today after a bumper year for shares, suggesting the City’s ‘Santa rally’ is over.
Having gained 240 points since December 21 the FTSE [...]
• More than 1,000 jobs put at risk as 2 outlets close• Analysts warn of more retail failures as consumers spend less
Youth fashion chain D2 has become the first post-Christmas casualty, collapsing into administration and putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk.
The retailer, which specialised in brands such as Wrangler, Levis and Kickers, is [...]
Government ministers hold crisis talks as Asia’s biggest carrier considers filing for bankruptcy
Shares in Japan Airlines plunged to a record low today amid rumours that Asia’s biggest carrier could file for bankruptcy in an attempt to turn around its failing business.
The transport minister, Seiji Maehara, and other cabinet ministers were this evening holding crisis talks [...]
