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Pay rises at 3.8%

Pay rises are running at the "relatively high" level of 3.8%, an increase of 0.3% over last year’s deals, according to new research today. Read

Bellway issues warning over North West housing market

Housebuilder Bellway today said the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North West were being “particularly hard hit” in the housing market slowdown. Read

Morrisons sales up 7%

Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons has kept up the pressure on its rivals after unveiling further strong sales growth. Read

Oil falls boost airlines

A further fall in oil prices put a spring in the step of airline shares British Airways and easyJet today. Read

Halfords cashes in on cycling trend

Halfords said today it was benefiting from a “resurgent” cycling market as more commuters swapped their cars for bikes to get to work. Read

Pre-tax profits up 17% for United Utilities

United Utilities today said it had beaten leakage targets for the second year in a row and posted higher than expected annual profits. Read

Ryanair plans 5% price hike

Budget airline Ryanair, one of the largest Liverpool Airport carriers, warned today that its fares may have to rise 5% this year as costs increase. Read

Vodafone in for Tiscali

Mobile phone giant Vodafone is poised to table a formal takeover bid for Italian broadband group Tiscali, it was reported today. Read

Credit crunch hits corporate travel

Business travel group Hogg Robinson today said firms were cutting back on foreign travel in signs that the credit crunch is putting paid to extravagant corporate junkets. Read

Late session boost for the FTSE

The London market held firm in positive territory today as stocks regained their poise following the turmoil seen yesterday on Bradford & Bingley’s profits warning. Read

Engineering firm Amec wins major deal with oil giant BP

Cheshire engineering firm Amec says today it has won a major deal from BP for project management work on the oil major’s offshore schemes around the world. Read

Bradford & Bingley shares fail to bounce back after warning

There is little sign of a stock market comeback for struggling lender Bradford & Bingley today after yesterday’s 24% tumble. Read

United Utilities post higher-than-expected annual profits

United Utilities today says it has beaten leakage targets for the second year in a row as it posts higher than expected annual profits. Read

Tata completes Jaguar Land Rover deal

INDIAN giant Tata Motors has today completed the £1.16bn takeover of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, including the Halewood plant which employs more than 2,000 people. Read

Average UK pay deals fall slightly to 3.2%

Average pay deals have fallen slightly to 3.2% in recent months, widening the gap with the rate of inflation, according to a new report today. Read

BG Group “surprised” over collapse of £6.6bn takeover talks

BG Group is expressing its surprise today after one of Australia’s biggest energy firms broke off discussions over a £6.6bn takeover. Read

It's here! Liverpool's new shopping paradise opens for business

TODAY’S opening of the £1bn Liverpool One shopping development was last night described as “one of the most important days in the city’s history”. Read

Camera retailer Jessops improves margins to offset poor sales

Camera retailer Jessops today says it is on a sounder footing after efforts to improve margins helped compensate for a sharp fall in sales. Read

Blacks Leisure promises radical changes to its business

Blacks Leisure is today promising radical changes to its business following another year of losses at the outdoor clothing and boardwear firm. Read

Companies urged to offer more construction apprenticeships

Firms are being urged to offer more apprenticeships to youngsters seeking work in the construction industry as new research shows a “severe shortage” of job vacancies. Read