BCNE News

Live Business News from the BBC

US job numbers show strong growth

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:45:26 GMT
The US economy created 243,000 jobs in January, while the unemployment rate fell to 8.3%, official figures show.


Work programme on track: Grayling

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:33:18 GMT
Around 20% of unemployed people who have been on the government's main welfare-to-work scheme, the Work Programme, for at least 6 months have been found a job, the BBC has learnt.


New Virgin staff pay for checks

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:53:12 GMT
Virgin Atlantic is forcing successful job applicants to pay for their own criminal record checks, Radio 4's Money Box reveals.


High Streets bid for £1m funding

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:35:58 GMT
The government is looking for 12 run down High Streets in England to share £1m as a part of plans proposed by TV retail guru Mary Portas.


Annuity sales 'unfair and opaque'

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:01:34 GMT
The way annuities are sold is costing half a million retirees each year as much as £1bn in future pension income, the National Association of Pension Funds says.


RBS boss calls for pay correction

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:08 GMT
The chairman of 82% taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) says banker pay has been "high for too long" and needs to be corrected.


Europe hit by Russia gas shortage

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:28:56 GMT
Freezing weather sweeping across Europe is causing a shortage of vital Russian gas supplies to several countries, officials say.


BT vow fibre optic 'game changer'

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:20:17 GMT
Fibre optic broadband connections to at speeds of 300 Mbps will be available 'on demand' in the UK next year, BT says.


Apple overturns Motorola's ban

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:10:08 GMT
Apple is granted a suspension of a sales ban imposed on some of its iPads and iPhones in Germany.


Service sector sees strong growth

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:01:06 GMT
The UK's service sector grew at its fastest rate since March 2011 in January, according to a closely watched survey.


1.1 million face £100 tax fines

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:44:16 GMT
Just over one million taxpayers face a penalty of £100 for failing to submit their self-assessment tax returns on time, HM Revenue and Customs says.


Personal insolvencies 'down 11%'

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:09:00 GMT
Fewer people were declared insolvent in 2011 in England and Wales than in 2010, but the number of companies going bust increased.


BT cuts costs to increase profits

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:29:21 GMT
Telecoms group BT reports a sharp rise in profits, thanks largely to a jump in the number of broadband users.


UK recession looms, says report

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:02:24 GMT
The UK will enter recession in the first half of the year as households continue to cut back, says the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.


Score draw in TV football case

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:27 GMT
The Premier League and the importers of foreign satellite TV decoder boxes and cards are both claiming victory after their latest court battle


Game shares soar on lending deal

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:30:44 GMT
Shares in video game retailer Game Group soar by 40% after lenders revise the firm's banking arrangements.


Eurozone service sector growing

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:47:52 GMT
The eurozone's service sector grows for the first time in four months, although Spain and Italy continue to struggle.


'Sale and rent back' closed down

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:54:29 GMT
The sale and rent back industry has been almost completely closed down, says the Financial Services Authority.


Mobility aid sellers in spotlight

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:25:51 GMT
Action has been taken against mobility aids traders following a warning from the regulator over sales of the products.


Uganda signs oil production deal

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:06:35 GMT
Oil production is set to start in Uganda after a deal is signed between the government and London-based Tullow oil, which also draws in Chinese and French firms.


Cold front ad for Mini backfires

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:49:50 GMT
An advertising agency for BMW pays to name Europe's cold weather "Cooper" in Germany, after the firm's Mini Cooper car, but the stunt backfires.


UK download speed gains 'uneven'

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:02:49 GMT
Ofcom reports a 22% gain in the UK's average broadband download speed between May and November, but not all ISPs improved.


Hackers fool bank security system

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:12:32 GMT
Criminal hackers have found ways around new security devices used for online banking, the BBC has learned.


MPs reverse Lords welfare defeats

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:38:55 GMT
MPs overturn a series of defeats inflicted on the government's welfare reform bill by peers, voting to reinstate child benefit into the proposed £26,000 total cap on payments.


Ash claims finally given go-ahead

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:34:53 GMT
Some 300 travellers with insurance claims resulting from the ash cloud disruption in May 2010 will finally have their cases resolved.


MPC member attacks lending cuts

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:58:29 GMT
A member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee criticises banks for not lending enough to businesses and asks if they are "risk-averse jerks".


China 'considering' eurozone help

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:57:52 GMT
Premier Wen Jiabao says Beijing is "considering" contributing to European rescue funds, during a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.


Bank says Irish recession to stay

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:02:47 GMT
Ireland's Central Bank says the country's domestic economy will remain in recession through 2012.


Hungarian airline Malev collapses

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:21:06 GMT
Hungarian airline Malev ceases trading after 66 years after being ordered by the EU to repay state aid it has received.


Panasonic predicts a record loss

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:11:05 GMT
Japanese electronics giant Panasonic forecasts a record net annual loss of $10bn for the year to March.


Pilkington to close one UK line

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:53:33 GMT
The owner of the glass manufacturer Pilkington says it will close one of its three UK production lines as it cuts costs.


Redknapp lies 'extremely telling'

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:22:41 GMT
Harry Redknapp's admission of lying to a News of the World reporter is "extremely telling", a court is told.


Olympics 'boosting' Scots tourism

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:26:28 GMT
Tourist bookings for visits to Scotland around the time of the London Olympics are rising, it is claimed.


Sports shirts may feature EU flag

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:49:34 GMT
The European Parliament votes after a heated debate to back a call for national sports teams to wear the EU flag on their shirts.


VIDEO: RBS boss: Banker pay too high

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:36:01 GMT
RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton says chief executive Stephen Hester was 'entitled' to a near-£1million share bonus, which he later turned down.


VIDEO: Can Germany teach UK about banking?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:08:19 GMT
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna explained why Labour was looking at international lessons of good practice in finance.


AUDIO: UK share of exports to India 'below Italy'

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:08:31 GMT
Just how good is the state of UK-India trade?


VIDEO: RBS chairman: 'Bankers' pay too high'

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:53:03 GMT
The chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland has admitted that bankers' salaries are too high and need to come down.


AUDIO: BGL's Winslow talks meerkats and management

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:48:58 GMT
Simon Jack hears from Peter Winslow, chief executive of BGL Group - the company behind compare the market.com among other businesses.


VIDEO: Tett: Don't blame just the bankers

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:30:52 GMT
The woman credited with foreseeing the financial crash claimed people love to bash the bankers but they were not the only ones to blame.


VIDEO: RBS chairman defends Hester bonus

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:46:08 GMT
The chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Sir Philip Hampton, has defended his decision to award a bonus to chief executive Stephen Hester.


VIDEO: Glencore in talks to buy Xstrata

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:57:47 GMT
Glencore, the world's biggest commodities trader, is in talks to buy Xstrata, a deal that would create a mining group worth $80bn.


VIDEO: Do the super-rich pay their way?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:53:43 GMT
Do the super-rich pay their way?


Credit unions hoping to widen net

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:53:24 GMT
Credit unions hope a new law will boost membership numbers


Test cricket on sticky wicket in Middle East

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:06:02 GMT
Why is the England-Pakistan Test match not bowling fans over?


The internet's secret black market

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:23:53 GMT
Out of reach of regular internet searches is a secret online world


Giving an invasive water pest the bullet

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:05:48 GMT
Wrestling one of the UK's most invasive pests


Comments on Zuckerberg letter

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:48:09 GMT
Decoding Mark Zuckerberg's letter to investors


Rolls-Royce opens Singapore plant

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:06:04 GMT
Rolls-Royce starts up engine production in Singapore


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