Business
HEADLINES:
Waterford Wedgwood collapses under debts
Consumer: Waterford Wedgwood, owner of some of the finest names ever to grace the world’s dining tables, gave up the fight for survival and called in the administrators Comments
Sterling claws back ground from the euro
Economy: Foreign exchange traders are putting their money behind sterling in the first signs of a fightback for the beleaguered British currency. Comments
High Street gets a lift from upbeat Liberty
Consumer: Liberty, the iconic Regent Street store, is defying the carnage in the retail sector and offering hope that the High Street could enjoy a better start to the new year than expected Comments
Swiss bank’s crafty strategy shows how difficult it is to clamp down on tax havens
Analysis: As anger mounts about the global economic meltdown, Barack Obama and other leaders are promising a war on offshore tax avoidance. But as this investigation into Swiss bank Julius Baer reveals, it will be a huge challenge CommentsNews
Mayor: London can benefit from recessionThe Mayor urges Londoners to see past the gloomy economic outlook for this year
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New chairman hired to rescue Ennstone
Construction: Quarrying group Ennstone is attempting to dig itself out of a hole in the new year by bringing in an insolvency accountant as its new executive chairman CommentsObama’s spending bonanza lifts dollar
Economics: Investors have welcomed Barack Obama’s plans for a multi-billion-dollar stimulus package to revive the US economy as the President-elect met congressional leaders to discuss the plan Comments
Lufthansa linked to two more airlines
Aviation: The takeover of much of the European airline industry by the continent’s biggest carrier seemed to move ahead as separate reports linked German giant Lufthansa with bids for SAS of Scandinavia and Italy’s Alitalia CommentsMadoff, the Mayfair greasy spoon and Boots face cream
Scandal: Bernard Madoff memorabilia has become a hot item on eBay just as details of the alleged fraudster’s eccentric habits while in London emerge CommentsMWB says its hotels have staying power
Consumer: The provincial luxury and boutique hotels group behind the Malmaison and Hotel du Vin brands is trading well, listed company MWB Group said CommentsNAB gives pledge on UK banks – for now
Banking: Australian lender National Australia Bank has given a qualified commitment to its UK operations, saying it will keep the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks in the group “for the time being” CommentsRow over Aer Lingus chief’s ‘failure bonus’
Aviation: Aer Lingus has been challenged to explain a £2.6 million bonus reportedly granted to chief executive Dermot Mannion. CommentsWatchdog’s blitz on delayed profit alerts
Regulation: Top companies are being probed by the Financial Services Authority and may face fines or prosecution for failing to disclose profits warnings quickly enough. Comments
UK fear as Microsoft 'poised to axe 15,000'
Technology: There were fears for hundreds of jobs at Microsoft's offices in Reading and London amid reports that the software giant is set to axe up to 15,000 staff worldwide CommentsOil prices tumble on fears for reduced demand in America
Energy: Oil prices plunged as concerns over lower demand outweighed earlier optimism inspired by slower increase in stocks in the US. CommentsBankers brace for slim pickings as bonus time nears
Banking: Bankers face the prospect of "dramatically lower" bonuses this year and the prospect of future payouts being clawed back if their investments fail to perform Comments3200 at risk in Adams stores closure threat
Retail: Administrators for children's fashion chain Adams have warned that store closures are likely, putting up to 3200 UK jobs at risk CommentsOligarch's chemicals giant close to collapse
Industrials: Industrial giant LyondellBasell Industries is in danger of collapse as the twin threats of rising costs and global recession put the squeeze on the chemicals industry CommentsMadoff gives investigators a tally of what is left
Scandal: Bernard Madoff has provided investigators with a list of his assets as they untangle the details of the £35 billion Ponzi scheme he is alleged to have operated Comments
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Analysis
Swiss bank’s crafty strategy shows how difficult it is to clamp down on tax havens
Analysis: Gordon Brown and Barack Obama are both promising to crack down on the use of offshore tax havens. But putting those tough words into practice is another matter Comments
Shadowy hedges may be down, but are they really out?
Analysis: After the banks, talk was that hedge funds would be next. The prediction has proved correct - but not in a way anyone imagined Comments
MONDAY UPDATE
Market report: Tate & Lyle turns sour as sweetener battle hots up
The David and Goliath struggle in the market for artificial sweeteners is leaving a sour taste in the mouth of Tate & Lyle shareholders
Opinion, comment, your views
Anthony Hilton
Chris Blackhurst
Comment: Maxwell echo that should have alerted Madoff’s fans
Johnny Reed
Thundering Herd can only clap as Merrill bows out
Merrill Lynch bankers staged a Wall Street tradition when the New York Stock Exchange sounded its closing bell on New Year's Eve: the clapoff
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