Business News

DSG to close 77 Currys outlets and slash dividend

John Browett, the new chief executive of DSG International, is to slash the company's dividend, close underperforming stores and try to improve customer service as he attempts to transform the fortunes of the Currys and PC World-owner.

Inside Business News

Shell's support for carbon capture plant raises hopes for emissions cuts

Friday, 16 May 2008

Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to invest in one of the largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the world.

Pressure mounts on Barclays to strengthen its capital position

Friday, 16 May 2008

Barclays conceded yesterday that it was under increasing pressure to raise capital as investors said the bank's attempt to get by with a thinner buffer than rivals was untenable.

Icahn says Yahoo board was 'irrational and irresponsible'

Friday, 16 May 2008

Yahoo's board members acted "irrationally" and "irresponsibly" in rejecting a $46bn bid from Microsoft, the billionaire Carl Icahn said yesterday as he launched a campaign to oust them.

Staff braced for thousands of job cuts at Thomson Reuters

Friday, 16 May 2008

Several thousand jobs are expected to be cut at Thomson Reuters in the coming weeks, after the £8.7bn merger of the two news organisations to create the world's largest financial information provider.

Verwaayen dials out on a high note as BT results beat analyst expectations

Friday, 16 May 2008

Ben Verwaayen, the out-going chief executive of BT, bowed out on a high note with consensus-beating fin-ancial results that pushed the share price up by more than 5 per cent by the end of the day.

Oil veteran Boone Pickens makes $2bn gamble on wind farm in Texas

Friday, 16 May 2008

One of America's most famous oilmen has made a dramatic $2bn bet on wind power, an alternative energy he says has the power to replace dwindling oil reserves.

German growth spurt surprises analysts

Friday, 16 May 2008

Germany yesterday surprised analysts across Europe with new figures showing that its economy grew by 1.5 per cent during the first quarter of the year, twice the rate predicted by forecasters.

Abbey poaches top RBS executive

Friday, 16 May 2008

Abbey has hired Royal Bank of Scotland's chief executive of business banking to spearhead a push into commercial banking.

SABMiller ups beer prices after ingredients costs soar

Friday, 16 May 2008

Add beer to milk, oil and bread. SABMiller, brewer of Peroni and Miller Lite, warned yesterday that it would pass on the rising costs of ingredients to customers through higher prices, piling pressure on consumers already struggling with hefty increases across a range of basic energy and food products.

Slump in housebuilding since start of year

Friday, 16 May 2008

Government plans for meeting the national housing shortage with the construction of 240,000 homes each year until 2016 were dealt another blow yesterday by figures showing a construction slump in the first three months of the year.

More business news: