BBC News - Business

• Six million facing new tax bills
(Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:40:43 GMT)

HM Revenue and Customs says some 1.4 million people each owe about £1,500 in tax, while 4.3 million will get an average rebate of £418. ... Read

• UN calls special food price talks
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:40:42 GMT)

The United Nations' food agency calls a special meeting of policy makers to discuss the recent rapid rises in food prices. ... Read

• HSBC threatens to quit London HQ
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:19:19 GMT)

HSBC may quit its London headquarters if the UK government decides to break up big banks, a senior executive says. ... Read

• Petrobras files $65bn share offer
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:12:33 GMT)

The Brazilian state oil company, Petrobras, unveils plans to sell up to $64.5bn of new stock, in one of the world's largest share offers. ... Read

• BP says oil spill cost up to $8bn
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:28:42 GMT)

BP says the cost of its Gulf of Mexico oil spill has risen to $8bn - a rise of more than $2bn in the last month alone. ... Read

• Bank customers in 'dire poverty'
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:02:20 GMT)

Banks are accused of leaving some customers in "dire poverty" after taking money out of their accounts without permission. ... Read

• Industry fears over cheaper coins
(Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:12:04 GMT)

Vending machine companies warn cheaper "steel" 5p and 10p coins being considered by the Treasury could cost the industry millions of pounds. ... Read

• Nigerian economy 'to grow by 10%'
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:04:42 GMT)

Nigeria's economy will hit double-digit growth by the end of 2011 or early 2012, the country's finance minister says. ... Read

• Shift in home loan availability
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:07:48 GMT)

The cost of mortgages is continuing to fall and they are becoming more accessible to some borrowers, figures show. ... Read

• US sees 54,000 jobs go in August
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:05:17 GMT)

The US economy shed another 54,000 jobs in August, the third month in a row that jobs have been lost, official figures show. ... Read

• UK builders and services falter
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:47:47 GMT)

New data shows new construction orders contracted in the second quarter, while the services sector slowed sharply in August. ... Read

• 'Big drop' in alcohol consumption
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:50:14 GMT)

Alcohol consumption has fallen faster than ever, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association suggest. ... Read

• Europe agrees finance watchdogs
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:52:42 GMT)

The European Union agrees to reform financial supervision, with new agencies to oversee banks, insurers and financial markets. ... Read

• Chinese consider rival Potash bid
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:48:01 GMT)

Chinese investors approach Canadian pension fund over a possible rival bid for the fertiliser giant Potash Corporation. ... Read

• Andean gold in $3bn bidding war
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:57:04 GMT)

Rival Canadian gold mining companies, Goldcorp and El Dorado, lock horns in a $3bn fight to buy up Andean Resources. ... Read

• Four power firms face sales probe
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:20:04 GMT)

Four of the "big six" UK energy suppliers are to be investigated amid concerns of mis-selling to customers, the regulator says. ... Read

• House prices fall again in August
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:44:18 GMT)

House prices fell for the second month in a row in August, according to the Nationwide building society. ... Read

• Plans for more £5 notes in ATMs
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:33:20 GMT)

All banks and building societies have put in place plans to begin dispensing £5 notes from the cash machines, a report reveals. ... Read

• Russia extends grain export ban
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:39:21 GMT)

Russia will consider lifting its grain export ban only after the next year's harvest has been reaped, Vladimir Putin says. ... Read

• ECB ups eurozone growth forecasts
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:32:34 GMT)

The European Central Bank raises its forecast for eurozone growth for this year and next year, and keeps interest rates on hold. ... Read

• Mozambique prices 'irreversible'
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:10:45 GMT)

The government of Mozambique says price rises which have led to deadly riots are "irreversible", as Maputo residents are urged to continue their protests. ... Read

• Burger King is sold for $3.26bn
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:51:38 GMT)

Burger King is being sold to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (£2.1bn), it has been announced. ... Read

• Dell pulls out of battle for 3Par
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:49:13 GMT)

Dell withdraws its bid for 3Par after rival Hewlett-Packard raises its offer for the data storage company to $2.1bn. ... Read

• RBS to cut a further 3,500 jobs
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:57:47 GMT)

Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to cut 3,500 jobs from its technical and back office division. ... Read

• Delhi loses patience with Commonwealth Games
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:51:45 GMT)

The Commonwealth Games were meant to showcase Delhi, but the Indian capital is struggling to be ready on time amid accusations of poor planning, reports the BBC's Geeta Pandey. ... Read

• Hawk-Eye firm lined up for sale
(Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:14:20 GMT)

The British company behind the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology used in tennis and cricket is to be put up for sale. ... Read

• Premier League spending tumbles
(Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:14:41 GMT)

Spending by English Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window has tumbled 22% from last year, a report says. ... Read

• Cairo literary business booming
(Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:50:18 GMT)

Egypt's literary scene is thriving, with a new generation of writers and poets taking advantage of an increasing number of small publishers and social networking sites to get their work noticed. ... Read

• Banks leave customers in 'poverty'
(Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:29:15 GMT)

High Street banks have been accused of leaving some customers in "dire poverty" after taking money out of their accounts without permission. ... Read

• Wrong tax bill for millions in UK
(Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:44:34 GMT)

Almost six million people in the UK have paid the wrong amount of income tax in the past year, with some facing a bill of up to £1,400 - although others can expect a rebate. ... Read

• Shopping malls: saviour or curse?
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:02:39 GMT)

Meadowhall in Sheffield was one of the first giant shopping centres in the UK. What sort of effect has it had on the local area? ... Read

• 3D cameras and web TVs on show
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:19:14 GMT)

Rory Cellan-Jones tries out 3D video equipment and looks at the latest ultra thin and bright OLED TVs. ... Read

• Travel compensation and charges
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:09:35 GMT)

Travel expert Simon Calder has more advice for people doing battle with airlines and agents. ... Read

• Global food prices reach 20 year high
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:11:07 GMT)

Global food prices have reached a 20 year high and there are concerns they could climb even further after Russia decided to extend its ban on wheat exports. ... Read

• The mint with a whole lot of food miles
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:14:43 GMT)

A British discount store is buying in Polo mints from Indonesia even though the same mints are being manufactured just a mile up the road in York. ... Read

• Past is the future
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:21:05 GMT)

The lacemaking factory going back to traditional methods to survive ... Read

• Massive Mini
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:28:44 GMT)

How far can BMW stretch the brand before it snaps? ... Read

• Rush to buy
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:27:25 GMT)

Fear sparks stockpiling of food in Russia as prices soar ... Read

• Paying the price
(Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:06:26 GMT)

PayPal's co-founder worked so hard he would sleep in the office ... Read

• Expert views
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:08:15 GMT)

Economists remain divided over the merits of spending cuts ... Read

• Stock market gloom
(Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:39:42 GMT)

August was tough, but there were glimmers of hope ... Read

• Bird business
(Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:51:03 GMT)

The back-breaking, ear-splitting work on Peru's guano islands ... Read