New look

Virgin among funds to fish for bottom of market

Sir Richard Branson's group is one of several now raising money to back battered aviation, hotels and property sectors

Merrill Lynch could finance sale to Bloomberg

Investment bank believed to be in talks with Bloomberg over sale of its stake in the news service-to-trading data group

Construction chief warns of 10,000 job losses

Voluntary redundancy for civil servants planned as builders deliver blow to Irish government's cutback plans

Berkeley Group's £60m payout to bosses

Entrepreneur Tony Pidgley and his colleagues will receive 7% of the housebuilding company, which has market value of £766m

Whyte & Mackay eyeing up Glen Moray

The Scotch whisky distillery considers takeover to tighten its grip on Indian market

FishWorks founder steps down from the board

The departure of Mitch Tonks, who founded the AIM-listed restaurant chain, has been described as 'a natural progression'

BAE to take control of new joint venture group

A series of side agreements means Britain's largest defence contractor could be in sole control within a year

Bentley feels the slowdown as sales falter

Sales in the British-based luxury marque owned by Volkswagen fell 38 per cent as consumer confidence continues to worsen

Chai Patel on healthcare sector buying spree

The entrepreneur will use family money to launch a comeback and has set up an acquisition vehicle called Court Cavendish

RBS seeks care merger for Priory

The bank is holding discussions about a merger that would lead to a radical shake-up of Britain’s healthcare sector

Field narrows for Sellafield clean up

The Times understands ministers have whittled down contenders for a £1bn-a-year contract to clean up the nuclear site to two

Sharewatch: Insulation lets the cold in

Stirling-based Superglass, maker of glass-fibre insulation for buildings, slumped last week following the company’s second profits warning...

Inspired Gaming wants to quit pubs

The leisure group is close to selling its pubs division to rival Danoptra in a move that could save 850 jobs

FishWorks founder steps down from the board

The departure of Mitch Tonks, who founded the AIM-listed restaurant chain, has been described as 'a natural progression'

Yahoo! re-enters merger talks with Time Warner

Online search engine firm spent the July 4 bank holiday weekend in discussions to defend itself from a break-up by Microsoft

Televangelist refuses to render unto taxman

Kenneth Copeland is one of at least six American 'televangelists' facing a senate investigation for alleged financial wrongdoing

Brazil's man of iron laughs off recession

While most western businessmen are tearing their hair out , the Brazilian is in a business enjoying a purple patch

BP Russian feud moves to UK court

The oil giant has been at war with the billionaires since last year after disagreements over strategy and dividend policy

Too slow to adapt to changing business world

To many people the decline of the network is the most visible evidence of more sweeping changes that have been hitting Royal Mail

One letter in four comes via Royal Mail rival

Exodus of blue-chip bulk mailing customers to rival operators such as TNT and Business Post leaves Royal Mail slipping

Value shops tip growth as shoppers trade down

Aldi, Lidl and Netto are forecast to increase their share of Britain's grocery market by 60 per cent over the next four years

Rose faces institutional protest at M&S meeting

Sir Stuart Rose faces a protest vote from shareholders over his decision to become both executive chairman and chief executive

Yahoo! re-enters merger talks with Time Warner

Online search engine firm spent the July 4 bank holiday weekend in discussions to defend itself from a break-up by Microsoft

Brightsolid reconnects with clients

After changing its name from Scotland Online, the online pioneer aims to expand its market appeal and recover its losses

Ambani feud threatens merger by mobile groups

Bitter battle between India's two richest men threatens to derail the creation of a powerhouse in the mobile phone market

Brightsolid reconnects with clients

After changing its name from Scotland Online, the online pioneer aims to expand its market appeal and recover its losses

Forth Ports races to find new ferry operator to Europe

The port operator is searching for a replacement for the Rosyth to Zeebrugge route

Stansted to take 40m passengers

Numbers could go up by 15m following ministers’ decision to scrap current restrictions and allow an increase in flights

British Gas prices expected to increase

Britain's largest energy supplier is preparing for energy rises of at least 15 per cent which could hit its 16m customers

Severn Trent may be forced to cut prices

Severn Trent could be forced to return £40m to customers as Ofwat prepares to bring further sanctions against the company