Here is the latest Business News from the BBC.
FTSE falls as housebuilder shares drop
London’s FTSE 100 opens lower, with Next and shares in housebuilders weighing on the index.
O2-Three tie-up risks ‘long-term damage’
The planned merger of UK mobile networks O2 and Three should be blocked or severely restricted by the EU to prevent serious damage, the UK competition regulator says.
VIDEO: Tough times for India’s ecommerce
The BBC’s Sameer Hashmi looks at the challenges facing India’s ecommerce firms.
Japanese shares lower in early trade
Markets in Japan, South Korea, and Australia kick off the trading week with a lower start.
UK economic growth ‘to soften further’
Growth in the UK economy is set to soften further, according to a survey by the business body the British Chambers of Commerce.
Cameron faces MPs amid tax affairs row
David Cameron will attempt to seize back the initiative on tax as he faces MPs for the first time since the Panama Papers row erupted.
Daily Mail owner considering Yahoo bid
The owner of the Daily Mail newspaper is considering a bid for the struggling US internet company Yahoo.
The filmmaker who swapped communism for Hollywood
The filmmaker who swapped communism for Hollywood
Are Trump and Sanders right about trade?
Why Trump and Sanders are both knocking free trade
VIDEO: TomTom boss: ‘You can go 100mph’
Harold Goddijn, chief executive and cofounder of TomTom, offers the business advice he wishes he had been given when he started out, for the BBC News series CEO Secrets.
Tata offers its UK plants for sale
Tata Steel is beginning the formal process of selling its loss-making UK plants, inviting interested bidders to submit their offers.
Dubai tower ‘to surpass’ Burj Khalifa
Developers have announced plans to build a new tower in Dubai to surpass the Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building.
PM sets up anti-tax dodging task force
The government is to set up a new task force to investigate allegations of tax-dodging and money-laundering made in the Panama Papers, PM David Cameron says.
PM releases tax returns data amid row
David Cameron reveals he paid almost £76,000 in income tax in 2014-15, as he publishes tax returns details going back six years following a row over his financial affairs.
Hammond urges China minister over steel
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond discusses the issue of over-capacity in steel production with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.
Mobile drought insurance for Africa’s farmers
African farmers’ drought insurance claims paid by mobile
The history of getting round the taxman
A colourful history of tax avoidance throughout the ages
Mossack Fonseca raided in El Salvador
Authorities in El Salvador raid the offices of the Panama law firm at the centre of a massive data leak, the attorney general’s office says.
Why the top 10 tax havens don’t include Panama
Why the top 10 tax havens don’t include Panama
VIDEO: The yacht with its own bar and lift
The BBC’s Leisha Chi reports from the Singapore Yacht Show and tours a mega yacht so plush, it even has its own lift.
Libor accused says he was obeying boss
A former Barclays banker accused of manipulating Libor, a key benchmark interest rate only did what he was told to do by his boss without realising it was wrong, a court has heard/
Could Trump really save the US $19tn?
Could Trump wipe out US government debt in eight years?
Romania sells ex-dictator’s luxuries
Romania sells off more luxuries from the vast collection of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, executed in 1989.
Sam Woods appointed as new PRA chief
Sam Woods is appointed as a Bank of England deputy governor and head of the Prudential Regulatory Authority, which oversees the banking sector.
Investors approve Marriott Starwood deal
Shareholders of both Marriott and Starwood Hotels – owner of the Sheraton and W brand hotels – approve the tie-up of the two hotel chains.
What’s the deal with offshore funds?
What’s the deal with offshore funds?
VIDEO: ‘We don’t know when the rain will come’
Much of southern and eastern Africa is currently in the grip of a devastating drought due to the effects of El Nino.
VIDEO: How Tata made millions from EU permits
Tata Steel made hundreds of millions of pounds selling carbon emissions permits given for free under a European Union emissions trading scheme, experts say.
Martha Lane Fox to join Twitter board
Digital pioneer Martha Lane Fox tweets that she will be joining the board of Twitter.
Bank of England fines QIB’s UK arm £1.4m
The Bank of England imposes a fine of £1.385m on Qatar Islamic Bank’s UK arm, QIB (UK), for failing to meet “some of the most basic regulatory standards”.
Brighton Pier sold in £18m deal
One of the south coast’s most famous landmarks, Brighton Pier is being sold for £18m.
Tata windfall from carbon permits
Tata Steel made hundreds of millions of pounds selling carbon emissions permits given for free under a European Union emissions trading scheme, experts say.
Weak industrial data raises growth fears
UK industrial output fell 0.5% in February from a year earlier, official figures show, the biggest decline since August 2013.
Mining stocks send FTSE 100 higher
London’s leading shares rise in early Friday trading, with mining stocks leading the upward trend.
Bonmarche shares drop on retail caution
Women’s fashion chain Bonmarche’s shares fall 10% in early trading after becoming the latest retailer to warn conditions are “challenging”.
Volvo plans China driverless car tests
Swedish carmaker Volvo has said it plans to launch a self-driving experiment in China involving up to 100 cars.
Setback for Playboy in hyperlinks case
A top EU lawyer says a website did not break the law by linking to Playboy photographs that had been re-published on another site without permission.
Scunthorpe steelworks deal nears
A deal to save Tata Steel’s Scunthorpe plant could be signed as soon as Monday, the BBC understands.
Cameron accused of shares ‘hypocrisy’
Labour accuses David Cameron of “hypocrisy” after the PM revealed he once owned shares in an offshore trust set up by his late father.
Panama Papers: How Jersey-based oil firm avoided taxes in Uganda
How a UK firm tried to avoid taxes in Uganda
Yen strength drags down Japan exporters
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index opens lower due to a sell off in exporting company shares, as the yen continues to strengthen.
Why are old banks hooking up with younger models?
Why old banks are hooking up with tech start-ups
VIDEO: Luxury boat builders target Asia’s rich
Luxury boat-makers are hoping for new customers in Asia. Leisha Chi reports from the Singapore Yacht show.
Senate cannot stop shrinking plane seats
Legislation that would have set minimum standards for passenger space aboard commercial aeroplanes fails to pass in the US Senate.
VIDEO: Head of Co-operative requests pay cut
The head of the Co-operative Group has asked for a 40% cut to his base salary because the job has become easier.
Fallout 4 wins best game at Baftas
Fallout 4 wins best game at 2016’s British Academy Games Awards.
Cameron had stake in father’s trust
Prime Minister David Cameron says he and his wife owned shares in an offshore trust set up by his late father, before selling them for £30,000 in 2010.
Should you ever ask for a pay cut?
Does it ever make sense to ask for a pay cut?
Run on Kenya bank forces it to close
A retail bank in Kenya is placed under receivership and its branches are shut, making it the third bank to run into difficulties in the last year.
Tata will be a ‘responsible seller’
Union leaders say UK Business Secretary Sajid Javid told them at a meeting in Port Talbot that Tata Steel will be a “responsible seller”.
The value of unpaid chores at home
What your unpaid work at home is worth
FCA asks firms to check for Panama link
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority asks 20 banks to check if they have links to Mossack Fonseca, the firm at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.
Ten things we’ve learned from the Panama Papers
Ten things we’ve learned from the Panama Papers
FTSE 100 falls despite M&S boost
The London market gives up early gains, despite shares in Marks and Spencer rising after its sales fell by less than expected.
Sainsbury’s abandons Brand Match
Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is to stop running its Brand Match scheme, which gives money back when goods are cheaper at rival Asda.
Tax credit change ‘may cause hardship’
Families who have been overpaid tax credits will have to repay the money at a much faster rate from now on, under government changes, prompting concern from campaigners.
UK productivity fell at end of 2015
Productivity among UK workers at the end of last year fell at the fastest pace since 2008, official figures indicate.
EU vote ‘could slow housing market’
UK house prices are rising but uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum could slow the market, the Halifax has suggested.
Co-op boss asks for huge pay cut
The chief executive of the Co-operative Group has asked for a 60% pay cut because, he says, the job has become easier.
M&S says clothing sales ‘unsatisfactory’
Marks and Spencer’s new chief executive vows to turn around the fortunes of its struggling clothing and home division.
ZTE shares tumble 14% in Hong Kong
Shares in Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE slide in Hong Kong, as they resume trading after a one-month suspension.
Samsung forecasts 10% jump in profits
South Korea’s electronics giant is forecasting a 10% jump in first quarter operating profit compared with the same time last year.
Asian markets trading up on Thursday
Markets in South Korea and Australia kick off to a positive start, while a strong yen continues to dent market sentiment in Japan.
Using tiny predators to tackle pests
The growing use of tiny predators to tackle farm pests
VIDEO: Savile Row’s first female master tailor
History has been made on London’s famous Savile Row as for the first time a shop is opened by a female master tailor.
Angola seeks financial help from IMF
Oil exporting Angola asks the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance.
Global economy weighs on Fed outlook
The risk of a global economic slowdown was a key factor in the decision not to raise interest rates in March, the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s meeting show.
VIDEO: Javid’s ‘constructive’ talks with Tata
The UK government will support “any serious buyer” of Tata Steel’s UK plants to “secure the future of the industry”, the business secretary says.
US regulator sues to block oil deal
The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to prevent oilfield serves company Halliburton from purchasing its competitor Baker Hughes.
VIDEO: An app-controlled ‘day at the office’
Alexandre Janssen shows how a smartphone gives him a highly personalised day at the office, at The Edge building in Amsterdam.
Scotland’s economy grows by 0.2%
Scotland’s economy grew by 0.2% in the last quarter of 2015 but trailed the UK’s performance as a whole, according to official figures.
Virgin to make cash rail delay payouts
Delayed passengers on Virgin Trains will receive money back by cheque in compensation, rather than travel vouchers.
PM ‘won’t get offshore funds in future’
Downing Street is forced to further clarify David Cameron’s financial affairs after questions about his late father’s investment fund.
Drugs firms lead FTSE 100 rebound
The London market enjoys a modest rebound, with shares in drugs companies among the top risers after Pfizer scraps its planned deal with Allergan.
Glencore sells stake in agribusiness
Mining and commodity trader Glencore says it has agreed to sell a 40% stake in its agricultural business to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
Panama Papers firm ‘victim of hack’
A partner at the Panamanian law firm at the centre of a huge leak of confidential financial data says it has been the victim of a hack.
UK car sales hit 17-year high in March
More than half a million new cars were sold in the UK in March in the strongest month since 1999.
Pfizer scraps $160bn Allergan deal
Drugmaker Pfizer confirms it has “terminated” its planned merger with Ireland’s Allergan following news of possible changes to US tax laws.
VIDEO: China’s ‘important’ seal to be auctioned
A sandalwood seal, being hailed as China’s most important historical object, will be auctioned at Sotheby’s on Wednesday.
Asian markets flat in early trade
Asian shares were largely flat in early trading, with investors cautious after sharp falls in US and European markets on Tuesday.
Syria’s loss of students to rebuild future
Syria has lost the students needed to rebuild future
Is world’s greenest office also smart?
Is world’s greenest office also smart?
Sustainability key to long-term corporate health
Profit warning. Why big business is starting to take sustainability seriously
VIDEO: Where do you get your financial advice?
Where do you get your financial advice? Young professionals tell the BBC how they get guidance on sorting out their financial affairs
Whatsapp adds end-to-end encryption
Facebook-owned messaging app Whatsapp heightens security for information sent through the service.
Rush to cash-in pensions fades
The rush to cash-in pension savings – a year on from the introduction of revolutionary rules – has been fading, the regulator says.
First day of new state pension system
An overhauled state pension – being paid to new, rather than existing pensioners – has begun, with some set to gain while others lose out.
Javid urges ‘responsible’ Tata sale
Tata Steel should agree to a “responsible sales process” of its UK plants, Business Secretary Sajid Javid says as he heads to India for talks.
Obama: ‘tax avoidance is a big problem’
President Obama has warned “tax avoidance is a big global problem”, and urged Congress to take action to eliminate tax loopholes.
Ex-Barclays workers accused of Libor fix
Five former Barclays employees have been accused of conspiring to defraud, by fixing the Libor interest rate.
How did Panama become a tax haven?
How did Panama become a tax haven?
Disney left without heir to top job
Disney’s chief operating officer, Tom Staggs, is to step down in May, leaving the company without an heir apparent for chief executive Bob Iger.
Banks deny claims they helped avoid tax
International banking giants have denied allegations that they helped clients to avoid tax by using complicated offshore arrangements.
Union fears over 870 Sainsbury’s jobs
Up to 870 jobs at Sainsbury’s are at risk, the Unite union says, after the supermarket announces changes to management roles at its major stores.
Twitter wins rights to show NFL games
Twitter agrees a deal to broadcast Thursday night NFL games online across the world for free.
Labour demands tax haven inquiry
Labour calls for an independent investigation into all Britons linked to tax haven allegations – including David Cameron’s family.
UK services growth ‘remains subdued’
Growth in the UK’s services sector picked up slightly last month but remained “sluggish”, a survey says.
Phones 4U founder: Hysteria over Brexit
Phones 4U founder John Caudwell says there is “a lot of hysteria” spoken about Brexit and it is “rubbish” to suggest three million jobs will be lost if Britain leaves the EU.
Savers ‘at risk’ in search for returns
Consumers risk making inappropriate investments they do not understand as they search for a better return on their savings, the City regulator warns.
Paddy Power Betfair to cut 650 jobs
The recently merged Paddy Power Betfair gambling firm is to cut 650 jobs in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
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