Here is the latest Business News from Sky News.
Heathrow Travellers Face Tube Strike Trouble
London Underground says there will be no service on the Piccadilly Line from late evening – around 10.30pm – and all day Thursday.
B&Q Owner Eyes Screwfix Store Expansion
Kingfisher sees room for almost 150 further UK stores in its Screwfix hardware operation as it closes B&Q outlets.
Lloyd’s Warns On Terror As Profits Dive 30%
The specialist insurance market’s chief executive says protection from terrorism is needed “now more than ever”.
BHS Creditors To Vote On Rent Reduction Plan
The retail chain’s creditors are to vote today on a deal BHS has said is crucial to “ensure its long term future”.
PM: Brexit Could Batter Britain’s Booze Trade
David Cameron says the UK’s booming alcohol industry makes hundreds of millions a year from free trade deals struck by the EU.
Radio Times Printer Close To New Rescue Deal
The printer of some of the UK’s best-selling magazines is on the brink of another financial rescue deal, Sky News learns.
Ashley Threatened With Contempt Of Parliament
Ed Miliband hits back at the Sports Direct boss after his attack on the former Labour leader during a Sky News interview.
EDF Hinkley Plant Decision Expected In May
France’s economy minister reveals the timetable for a decision a day before EDF’s UK boss faces MPs over the much-delayed plan.
Former Intel Chief Andy Grove Dead At 79
Bill Gates pays tribute to the business icon whose Holocaust survival inspired an “only the paranoid survive” philosophy.
Inflation Rate Unchanged At 0.3% In February
Consumer price growth has been flat for more than a year and latest official figures show little sign of it picking up soon.
Borrowing Figures Dent Osborne Deficit Hopes
Latest public finance data creates a fresh setback for the Chancellor as he remains under the spotlight following the Budget.
Biffa Dumps Bids And Recycles £1bn Float Plan
Biffa informs bidders it intends to pursue a London listing five years after it was taken over by its lenders, Sky News learns.
Thomas Cook Warns Holiday Market ‘Volatile’
The holiday operator reports bookings for this summer are still being damaged by security concerns among customers.
Brussels Blasts Knock Air Travel EU-Wide
Thousands face delays and cancellations in the wake of the bombings as security is stepped up in response.
Osborne To Face Parliament After Budget ‘Chaos’
The Chancellor is to make his first Commons appearance since he was forced into a U-turn on welfare cuts.
Floating Solar Farm Prepares To Power Up
Europe’s largest floating power station is nearing completion, despite a cut in solar subsides which left its fate in jeopardy.
MPs: Employers Must Do More For Working Mums
Mums are often forced to take low-paid jobs that don’t make the most of their skills in order to fit in childcare, one MP says.
New TVR Sports Cars Set To Be Made In Wales
The luxury car maker is the latest to say it will start manufacturing in Wales after Aston Martin also announced a new facility.
PRA Executive Nelson In Frame For Top Job
The PRA’s deputy chief executive has emerged as a contender to replace Andrew Bailey in its top job, Sky News understands.
New Top Dog At Pets At Home As CEO Retires
As the company’s share price recovers, Nick Wood said the time was right to spend more time at home with his family.
Starwood And Marriott Closer To Mega Merger
Starwood board gives the nod of approval to a merger after Marriott ups its bid with a “superior proposal”, worth $13.6bn.
More UK Flight Delays As France Strike Bites
The industrial action at airports in France is continuing to have a knock-on effect on flights leaving Britain.
Manufacturing In Steepest Decline Since 2009
Britain’s factories saw output fall in the three months to March though hopes for the coming quarter improved, new figures show.
Co-op Offers £40m Dowry To Store Buyers
The Co-op is to pay the buyer of 100 of its properties tens of millions of pounds to take them off its hands, Sky News learns.
Steelworks’ Future To Be Decided Within Days
Sources fear a board meeting of Tata Steel could result in full or partial closure of the Port Talbot plant, Sky News learns.
Sports Direct Boss Refuses To Face MPs
Mike Ashley tells Sky News the MPs who want to question him over working conditions at his firm are “a joke”.
#Happy10thAnniversary: A Decade Of @Twitter
Since Twitter began 10 years ago today, it has found itself at the centre of some of the biggest global events of the decade.
Apple Expected To Launch Smaller iPhone
The tech giant’s latest launch is just hours away – but will CEO Tim Cook also use the event to address the FBI encryption battle?
50:50 By 2020: Virgin Boss Urges Gender Shift
Jayne-Anne Gadhia will urge other City employers to move towards gender-balanced workforces by 2020, Sky News learns.
Average House Prices Push Past Record £300,000
Asking prices surge to a new record – £303,190 – in England and Wales as the North and West drive growth instead of London.
Brexit Could Blow £100bn Hole In Economy – CBI
Leaving the EU would cause a “serious shock” to the British economy, with a potential loss of 950,000 jobs, a business study says.
Truell In Bid Approach For Invoicer Tungsten
The financier Edi Truell is to step down from Tungsten’s board after offering to buy its assets, Sky News understands.
Sainsbury’s Confirms Offer For Argos Owner
Sainsbury’s confirms cash-and-share offer for the owner or Argos, Home Retail Group.
Co-op To Shed Somerfield Stores
The mutual wants to sell nearly 100 shops acquired during its disastrous takeover of Somerfield in 2008, Sky News learns.
Tiffany’s Sales And Profits Lose Sparkle
The luxury jeweller tries to inject more shine into its products after disappointing annual results blamed on the strong dollar.
Domino’s Unveil First Pizza Delivery Robot
Plans have been unveiled for the ‘world’s first’ pizza delivery robot, the Domino’s Robotic Unit.
Chinese Daily News Settles Lawsuit For $7.8m
The largest Chinese-language newspaper in the US settles a 12-year dispute over pay and conditions.
BT Names BG’s Lowth As New Finance Chief
Simon Lowth is to swap oil and gas explorer BG for telecoms giant BT this summer after being named as its new finance director.
Amazon In Frame As Google Sells Robot Division
Despite impressive breakthroughs, Google’s parent company is looking to sell – and Amazon could be in the frame.
House Builder Falls On Lower Forward Sales
Berkeley says reservations are down but maintains that underlying demand is strong despite uncertainty over the EU referendum.
Hundreds Recruited To Tackle Dryer Fault
Whirlpool recruits 650 extra engineering and call staff to deal with a safety recall involving millions of fire-risk tumble dryers
Small Firms’ Confidence Lowest Since 2013
The Federation of Small Businesses said fears over the economy and policies such as the living wage had hit firms’ sentiment.
Make Rail Delay Refunds Easier, Watchdog Says
Compensation forms must be written in plain English and staff need better training, the Office of Rail and Road says.
Tampon Tax Set To Be Scrapped After EU Deal
The move comes as the Government faced a revolt by Tory MPs demanding it go it alone to scrap the levy in defiance of EU rules.
French Government To Give EDF Funding Boost
France wants EDF to push ahead with a UK nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point and will give the firm the financial support it needs.
BT To Name Lowth As New Finance Chief
Simon Lowth will swap BG for BT when he is named as the telecoms group’s new finance chief on Friday, Sky News learns.
Phoenix Plots Bid For Deutsche Bank UK Unit
Phoenix is plotting a takeover of Abbey Life which analysts say could be worth between £1bn and £3bn, Sky News learns.
Britons Face Pay Cut After Budget, IFS Says
If forecast downgrades are right it means lower pay and living standards, a leading think-tank has warned in its Budget analysis.
Back To The Future: Self-Tying Shoes Are Here
Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is the first athlete in the world to try the Marty McFly-inspired footwear.
Ted Baker Cuts A Dash As Profits Rise 19%
The fashion brand shrugs off problems seen by UK rivals as its earnings surge ahead amid online growth and global expansion.
Lufthansa Shares Slide Despite Profit Surge
Earnings surge by 55% helped by cheaper fuel but the airline group warns on the impact of tough competition and lower fares.
Woodford Demands Outsider To Take GSK Helm
The high-profile fund manager tells Sky News a “fresh pair of eyes” is needed to replace Sir Andrew Witty at GSK.
Bank Of England Leaves Interest Rates On Hold
The Bank of England has left interest rates on hold at 0.5% marking seven years at which they have remained at the historic low.
Markets Cheer Fed Interest Rates Outlook
Global weakness and volatile markets mean the US Federal Reserve now expects to see two rather than four rate hikes this year.
Glaxo Chief Executive To Retire Next Year
Sir Andrew Witty’s tenure has been dogged by calls for a break-up of the drugs giant as well as a bribery scandal in China.
Government Defeated In Lords On Union Reforms
Government plans which have been criticised as an attack on Labour’s finances have been watered down in an amendment by the Lords.
Swedes Click With Comparison Site PriceRunner
One of the pioneers of the UK price comparison sector is to be bought by a Swedish investment vehicle, Sky News understands.
Lifetime ISA To Save For Homes And Pensions
People aged between 18 and 40 will be able to save up to £4,000 a year and enjoy a Government bonus on their contributions.
George Osborne’s Tale Of Two Budgets
The Chancellor delivered the Budget he wanted you to hear in the Commons – but there was a second one beneath the surface.
£7bn Tax Cut For ‘Nation Of Shopkeepers’
Changes mean 600,000 small firms will pay no business rates while a further quarter of a million will see their bills cut.
Taxpayers Face £20bn Loss On RBS Share Sales
Taxpayers could recoup just £23.6bn of the £45.5bn used to rescue RBS according to an analysis of figures published on Wednesday.
Corbyn: Budget Reveals Six Years Of Failure
The Labour leader responds to George Osborne’s Budget, saying the Chancellor has failed to rebalance the British economy.
Osborne To Levy Sugar Tax On Soft Drinks
The Chancellor vows the Government will do right by the next generation “no matter how difficult and how controversial it is”.
Key Points: Budget Announcements At A Glance
All the main bulletpoints – including efforts to tackle tax avoidance and measures on personal tax thresholds and fuel duty.
Fraud Lawsuit Against Mark Zuckerberg Dropped
A neighbour had claimed that Mr Zuckerberg did not honour his part of a land deal, but will now no longer sue.
‘No Hard Landing’ For Chinese Economy
China’s leader seeks to reassure markets that if reforms continue it will not suffer a major shock and mass layoffs of workers.
Unemployment Falls And Wage Growth Improves
Employment minister Priti Patel hails “strong” labour market figures but the TUC says they show pay growth is still too slow.
Chipotle Faces Quarterly Loss After Food Scares
The US restaurant chain is fighting to bounce back after an E.coli outbreak and other incidents have sent sales plummeting.
London Stock Exchange Agrees £21bn Merger
Deutsche Boerse agrees a “merger of equals” with the London Stock Exchange Group in a deal that will create a European giant.
Sony Announces Playstation VR Release Date
Its launch comes in a big year for virtual reality technology with Facebook’s Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive also due out.
What To Expect In Osborne’s Eighth Budget
The Chancellor is preparing to deliver his eighth Budget but who is going to do well and who will miss out? Here’s what to expect.
Infrastructure Giants Line Up For New UK Fund
Leading global investors have agreed to spearhead the launch of the British Infrastructure Club, Sky News learns.
Sony Buys Jackson’s Music Stake For $750m
The agreement gives Sony/ATV Music Publishing the sole ownership of music by artists from The Beatles to Taylor Swift.
Sports Direct Boss Formally Told To Face MPs
Mike Ashley is to be ordered to face a grilling by a parliamentary committee as it escalates its stand-off with the tycoon.
RBS To Slash 448 Investment Banking Jobs
The latest announcement brings to around 1,000 the overall number of job cuts set out by the lender over the last couple of days.
SFO Closes Foreign Exchange Investigation
The decision means no one will go to jail in the UK over the scandal which has seen global banks fined billions by regulators.
Avon Calling The UK As Cosmetics Firm Moves HQ
The cosmetics giant is moving its corporate headquarters to the UK 130 years after it was founded by a book salesman in New York.
Advent Plots £1bn Land Registry Takeover
The firm which owns stakes in DFS and Worldpay wants to take the Land Registry off George Osborne’s hands, Sky News learns.
Eurostar Profits Dragged Lower By Disruption
The cross-Channel passenger company sees profits fall after a year in which services were disrupted by the migrant crisis.
Clubbing Out, Coffee Pods In For Inflation Basket
The basket of goods and services used to calculate inflation suggests people would rather stay in with a coffee and buffet food.
Criminal Probe Into Kellogg Urinating Video
The breakfast cereals maker says it believes the graphic video was filmed in 2014 and any foods impacted have since expired.
CBI Says 80% Of Firms Want To Remain In EU
A poll shows most member firms back an “In” vote, but leave campaigners have questioned the way the survey was conducted.
Sainsbury’s Sales Rise First Time Since 2013
The supermarket ends eight quarters of sales falls as product ranges focus on new year healthy eating trends among consumers.
North To Get £300m Transport Boost In Budget
The Chancellor is set to fund a high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds, and support a major new train route in London.
Amazon Files Patent For Paying With A Selfie
The firm argues the payment method would be more secure than using conventional passwords or facial recognition technology.
Facebook Creates 200 New Jobs At Dublin HQ
Positions in sales, engineering and online operations will be filled by the end of 2016 in Ireland, the social media group says.
Employers Say University Isn’t The Only Way
As National Apprenticeship Week starts, Sky News takes a look at some of the options, and hears from employers who support them.
Osborne Faces His Own Financial ‘Black Holes’
The Chancellor’s economic parlour game comes back to haunt him as he risks breaking the fiscal rules he signed up to.
Microsoft Drops Support For Bitcoin Payments
The tech giant tells users it no longer accepts payments in the virtual currency – just over a year after introducing them.
RBS Cuts 550 Jobs In Move To Automated Service
Jobs lost as ‘robo-advisers’ replace face-to-face help, but the FCA calls for the industry to embrace the cost-cutting technology.
Driverless Cars On UK Motorways Next Year
The first test drives could be carried out on roads in Milton Keynes, Bristol, Coventry and Greenwich within months.
Co-op Bank Kicks Off Search For New Chief
Directors of the Co-op Bank have begun searching for a successor to the former HSBC executive Niall Booker, Sky News learns.
SSE Sells Off 50% Stake In Clyde Wind Farm
Energy giant agrees £355m sale to pension and energy investment funds in a bid to reduce its debt pile.
Night Tube To Start Running ‘In August’
The service will start on Victoria and Jubilee lines, followed by the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines, sources say.
PM’s ‘Help To Save’ Plan For Low-Paid Workers
Around 3.5 million Britons on low incomes are expected to qualify for support of up to £1,200 over four years in a new initiative.
Petrol And Booze Key To Fast Cash For Osborne
With George Osborne’s pension tax reforms scrapped, will Britons now pay a penny more for a pint or a litre of petrol?
Chancellor To Target Tax Loophole In Budget
George Osborne is expected to crack down on people who use personal service companies to avoid paying income tax.
Osborne Signals More Spending Cuts In Budget
Ahead of next week’s Budget, the Chancellor argues the need for “more bold decisions” in times of economic uncertainty.
Chancellor To Announce £16bn B&B Sell-Off
The Chancellor will announce plans to auction the remnants of Bradford & Bingley in next week’s Budget, Sky News learns.
EDF Boss ‘Confident’ Of Hinkley Point Go-Ahead
Despite uncertainty over funding, Jean-Bernard Levy says he is hopeful “all conditions will come together” for a definite launch.
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