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Woolworths to stop selling CD singles

High street chain Woolworths today announced it was to stop selling CD singles, saying the format was in “terminal decline”. Read

Battle brewing over Budweiser

Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch is planning a defence as speculation grows over a takeover approach from rival and Stella Artois firm InBev, according to reports today. Read

Vodafone chief expected to stand down

Vodafone’s chief executive will announce he is standing down from the mobile phone giant, it was claimed tonight. Read

M&S profits tops £1billion

Marks & Spencer’s annual profits topped £1 billion for the first time in a decade today. Read

All Bar One owner switches tax status

All Bar One owner Mitchells & Butlers said today it would switch to tax- efficient REIT status as part of attempts to revive its fortunes. Read

Asda demands better Government deal on recycling

The Government must ensure a fair deal over recycling, with all local authorities providing an equal service, Leeds-based supermarket chain Asda has said. Read

BA shares fall sharply over gloomy outlook

Shares in British Airways fell sharply today as City gloom deepened over the airline’s trading outlook. Read

Microsoft launches fresh bid to join up with Yahoo

Microsoft has launched a fresh attempt to tie-up with internet giant Yahoo! but is stopping short of a renewed takeover bid, it emerged today. Read

Ethel Austin bought out of administration

About 2,500 jobs have been saved at discount fashion group Ethel Austin after the group was today bought out of administration by the former boss of clothing chain MK One. Read

Duo plan £100million buy-up of hotels

ENTREPRENEURS Simon Matthews-Williams and Paul Bolton are on a spending spree after teaming up to create a £100m hotels empire. Read

Business confidence takes a battering

Business confidence has fallen for the fourth quarter in a row as fears of an economic slowdown loom, a survey said today. Read

FTSE preview: M&S annual profits set to be highlight of busy week

Annual results from retail giant Marks & Spencer should be the highlight of another busy week for corporate news, with figures also due from pubs group Mitchells & Butlers and babycare retailer Mothercare. Read

M&S employees expecting slashed bonuses

Around 75,000 employees of Marks & Spencer face slashed bonus pay-outs this week despite the retail giant achieving £1 billion in profits for the first time in a decade, it was reported today. Read

WH Smith linked with move for Paperchase

Retailer WH Smith was today linked with a possible £50 million bid for stationery chain Paperchase. Read

House starts tumble

New housing starts tumbled by almost a quarter in the first three months of 2008 to their lowest level in 12 years as builders shelved projects in an ailing market, official figures showed today. Read

BA makes £883m - but no bonus for chief exec

British Airways announced annual pre-tax profits of £883 million today, but warned it was braced for a “challenging” year ahead due to sky high oil prices and following its troubled move to Heathrow Terminal 5. Read

Barratt plans to reduce its number of sites

Barratt Developments said today it expected its number of sites to decline as it responds to a “significant” deterioration in market conditions. Read

Bradford & Bingley to ask shareholders for £300million

Yorkshire mortgage bank Bradford & Bingley has asked shareholders for £300m in a bid to bolster its balance sheet. Read

Sainsbury's unveils plan to boost non-food sales

Sainsbury’s unveiled plans to boost non-food sales today, including through the launch of a new online venture. Read

ScS slumps to an annual loss

Sofa chain ScS Upholstery is set to slump to an annual loss after it today revealed worse-than-expected trading over the crucial bank holiday weekend. Read