UK Business News

Pensions shock as Aegon admits blunder

Up to 7,000 people with income drawdown plans could have funds worth a quarter less than they thought

Building contractors face tax crackdown

Self-employed construction workers will be treated as employed for tax purposes and face higher bills

• Companies face business rates rise of up to 25%

• Laing O’Rourke plans to cut 650 jobs

Carphone Warehouse renegotiates Tiscali deal

Mobile phones group hopes to lop up to £27m off the purchase price after losing more than 160,000 customers

• Carphone Warehouse looks to hasten demerger

• Carphone and Vodafone reconnect

Halfords sales helped by staycationers

Consumers who spent their summer holidays cycling and camping help the retailer to grow sales over two quarters

World Business News

Confidence on Japan's streets grows

Despite internal strife in the new government, monthly survey shows that taxi drivers and bellhops are optimistic

Amazon Kindles in Christmas sales battle

The online retailer is to launch international version of its e-book reader, pitting it against several competitors

• Tax headache looms for UK Kindle buyers

• Amazon 'to launch Kindle in UK'

Swiss officials make pitch to lure UK bosses

Authorities are approaching chief executives of UK-based companies with tax-saving deals to lure the financial elite

Oil will peak in 10 years, Government warned

UK Energy Research Centre says production is heading into decline and investment must be accelerated in alternative fuels

• Tempus: A rocky ride through Kurdish mountains

• The Squeeze by Tom Bower

Analysis

FSA watchdog is stripped of its bite

The Dresdner Kleinwort traders’ success in going to the committee will surely encourage others to try their luck

• A fair wind blows yet again over Pall Mall

• Time for the credits to role on this drama

What next for the next big thing?

The e-book revolution is upon us. Some analysts suggest that there is a multibillion-pound opportunity to be exploited

Tempus: JPMorgan Private Equity shows strength

JMPE has a relatively mature portfolio and its potential for long-term capital growth makes the shares a buy

Law  

US law firm plans to turn City upside down

Greenberg Traurig Maher plans to recruit 200 lawyers within three years and scrap the traditional law firm business model

Terror suspect is named by Supreme Court

In its first ruling, a panel of justices agreed that the media could identify a man accused of being a key al-Qaeda financier

Lord Chief Justice demands tougher gun sentences

Those who commit gun crimes must face 'deterrent and punitive' sentences to protect public, most senior judge ruled

Money  

Current account charges to be made clearer

Banks bow to pressure from OFT and agree to implement changes

• PM calls for bank charges settlement

• Halifax to cut overdraft penalties for millions

Homeowners win right to sue over mortgages

A group of 300 who hold shared-appreciation mortgages can challenge Barclays and Bank of Scotland over the 'unfair' deal

• House prices rise but economists are cautious

• House prices ‘will take five years to return to peak'

Fraudsters target foreign plastic

Thieves find easier pickings from overseas credit cards

• Ten tips: stopping credit card fraud

• Man accused of America's biggest identity fraud

business travel  

Profile: James Caan

If you ever bump into the Dragon's Den judge on a business trip, just don't tell him your big money-making idea

A new way to get to New York

BA has launched its new business-class-only service to the Big Apple. Is it any good? Can it succeed where others have failed?

• Video: BA's new all-business JFK flight

Swine flu: Now they want to ban handshakes

Business travel organisation calls for traditional greeting to be scrapped to save us from swine flu