HBF blames mortgage cutbacks for Barratt job losses 04/07/2008

The squeeze on mortgages is to blame for job losses at Leicestershire’s Barratt Developments, says the Home Builders’ Federation. more »

Leicestershire's Minarik wins Miss England deal 04/07/2008

A team of hairdressers and make-up artists from Leicestershire have won the contract to work with the 50 finalists of Miss England 2008. more »

Emda offers £2.4m to raise tourism's game 04/07/2008

Notts tourism businesses could tap into millions of pounds in grants if they can come up with ideas that will boost the numbers of people visiting the area. more »

Derby rail station lounge to get wi-fi and new look 04/07/2008

A Passenger lounge at Derby railway station is to close from today and is to move to a different platform. more »

CITY FORECAST: The week ahead
04/07/2008 16:49:30: Marks & Spencer’s annual meeting will be the highlight of the corporate week, but the bad news from the housing sector is set to continue with updates from Barratt Developments and Persimmon. more »

ANALYSIS: why retailers are feeling the pain
04/07/2008 12:13:39: Marks & Spencer’s shock sales decline this week hammered home the troubles facing retailers as shoppers slam on the spending brakes. more »

Origin gives BG a ripe Aussie response to takeover bid
04/07/2008 10:47:28: Australia’s Origin Energy today urged shareholders to reject BG Group's £6.7 billion hostile takeover. more »

Private equity firm takes over Nord Anglia Education
04/07/2008 10:43:53: Training firm Nord Anglia Education today said it had agreed a £190 million private equity takeover. more »

John Lewis sales down 8.3% last week
04/07/2008 09:44:13: Department store chain John Lewis today said its out-of-town stores suffered most in a sharp sales fall last week. more »

Swiss giant UBS says it will struggle to break even
04/07/2008 09:42:47: Swiss banking giant UBS today said it would at best break even in second-quarter results as financial turmoil continues to rock the firm. more »

B&B shareholders salvage cash call after Texas Pacific walks
04/07/2008 09:40:14: Bradford & Bingley’s major shareholders were today stepping in to salvage the lender’s £400 million funding plan after a US private equity firm walked away from the deal. more »

Fuel prices blamed for collapse of haulage firm Macfarlane Transport
03/07/2008 14:54:07: Administrators today blamed rising fuel prices for the collapse of a haulage firm which threatens to put 300 people out of work. more »

Mortgage 'drought' to worsen, says Bank of England
03/07/2008 13:54:53: The mortgage drought looks set to worsen during the coming months as banks further rein in their lending in the face of falling house prices, a report showed today.  more »

Fuel price means shoppers travel less, says M&S boss
03/07/2008 09:46:13: Shoppers are making shorter and less frequent journeys because of the high cost of fuel, according to the Marks & Spencer boss. more »