Jim Armitage: Alone and unloved, Swiss provide a salutary lesson for the Eurosceptics

Conservative backbenchers like to cite Switzerland as an example of how it’s possible to trade in Europe while remaining out of the European Union. But within Switzerland itself, this benefit is not quite so apparent. As the noose tightens on the world’s most famous tax evasion mecca, it finds itself increasingly friendless.

Market Report: Rough ride endured by rattled retailers

Retailers had a tough time on the markets yesterday, with analysts sticking the knife in and investors dumping stock as the FTSE ended its month-long climb.

With lottery sales hitting an all-time high of £7bn, Camelot chief executive Dianne Thompson has every reason to be smiling

If you hit the jackpot on the National Lottery, and choose to make the trip to Camelot’s headquarters in Watford to pick up your cheque, there is a chance the person handing over your winnings will be Dianne Thompson. “I love sitting down and talking to winners,” says the woman who has headed up the lottery for more than 12 years. “I always want to know where they were when they found out.”

787 Dreamliner flights to resume

The airline with the greatest number of Boeing’s new Dreamliner jets will be the first to resume commercial flights with it today, four months after the 787 jet was grounded over safety fears.

Waitrose feasts on Eurovision boost

If you’re going to stay in for an evening of cheesy pop, camp presenters and political voting à la Eurovision, you may as well munch on the continent’s finest cuisine.

P&G chief AG Lafley returning

Incoming Procter & Gamble boss AG Lafley yesterday said that a sense of “duty” had persuaded him to return to his former job at the consumer goods giant.

Google eyeing sat-nav startup Waze

Google is reportedly eyeing a bid of $1bn (£725m) or more for Israeli mobile satellite navigation start-up Waze, just as the internet giant faces a fresh probe into its dominance in America.

Anthony Hilton: Britain’s malaise will last for a while, but at least it’s better than Japan

I remember a conversation with Paul Fisher in his office deep in the bowels of the Bank of England one day last summer when he said Japan was still struggling after 20 years to get back on its feet following its financial crash so we should not expect too much too soon from the United Kingdom.

Anthony Hilton: Byrne’s right on pension funds – bigger is better

To Birmingham for an interesting speech from Liam Byrne – he who as a member of the Labour Government Treasury team famously left the note after the 2010 election warning the incoming Chancellor there was no money left.

Anthony Hilton: Gilbert deserves credit, not brickbats

I should declare an interest and tell you that on Monday evening I was a guest of Aberdeen Asset Management at the Chelsea Flower Show gala preview.

No quick recovery for UK economy says top Bank official

Britain will have to wait for the boom times to return despite “some signs of a pick-up” in the economy, Bank of England rate-setter Paul Fisher declared yesterday.

Murdochs to take board positions after News Corp split

Rupert Murdoch and his sons, James and Lachlan, will take board positions on the two companies that will emerge next month when News Corp splits into two, with the media conglomerate’s directors approving the spin-off plans yesterday.

Outspoken fund manager Andy Brough joins the ranks of UKIP

One of the City’s best-known fund managers has joined UKIP as the business world continues to pick sides over Europe.

Banks given ultimatum to plug their black holes

Banks have been warned that they have just a month left to agree plans by the Bank of England to plug capital black holes.

The digital takeover: Why 2013 must see the end of traditional news consumption

I was in charge of _The Sun_ website on the day that Amy Winehouse died. Driving in Hertfordshire when the call came through from the newsdesk, I was told: "The body of a woman has been found at a house in Camden, but we do not know if it is Amy or not."

Co-operative Bank stops new corporate loans

The Co-operative Bank is to stop lending to new corporate customers as it seeks to repair a major hole in its finances - dealing a blow to efforts to ease the borrowing squeeze on small businesses.

Japan's All Nippon Airways first to resume Dreamliner flights

The airline with the greatest number of Boeing’s new Dreamliner jets will be the first to resume commercial flights with it on Sunday, four months after the 787 jet was grounded over safety fears.

Schroders star Andy Brough signs up for Ukip

One of the City’s best-known fund managers has joined Ukip as the business world continues to pick sides over Europe.

Lord Sugar turns a £50m profit on West End block

The Apprentice star Lord Sugar has sold a Mayfair office block for almost £50 million more than he bought it for just five years ago.

Eurovison boosts Waitrose's profits thanks to sales of meatballs and Danish pastries

If you’re going to stay in for an evening of cheesy pop, camp presenters and political voting à la Eurovision, you may as well munch on the continent’s finest cuisine.

Boom times look to be a long way off, MPC’s Paul Fisher warns

Britain will have to wait for the boom times to return despite “some signs of a pick-up” in the economy, Bank of England rate-setter Paul Fisher declared today.

'You're in their pockets': High Court row over valuation in General Electric planes deal with Lebedev-controlled Blue Wings airline

One of the world’s biggest aircraft valuers was accused in the High Court of being in the pockets of General Electric’s vast GECAS commercial aeroplane leasing division.

Major refinancing sees Manchester United slash interest bill by £10m a year

Manchester United have cut their interest bill by £10million a year after a major refinancing through Bank of America.

Ben Chu: So the deficit did rise last year after all

Outlook The Treasury this week hailed the fact that data from the Office for National Statistics showed that "underlying borrowing" is now falling. But did it? If you strip out factors such as gilt coupon payments from the Bank of England and transfers from the Royal Mail pension fund, borrowing in April 2013 was £10.2bn, up £1.3bn on the £8.9bn borrowed in April 2012. Ah, but what about the £2.

Ben Chu: This was Plan B all right

Outlook Some commentators are saying the IMF's advice to Mr Osborne this week did not amount to a call for the Chancellor to adopt an economic Plan B. I beg to differ. The IMF did not say the Government should merely permit the automatic stabilisers to function – which is what Mr Osborne means when he talks about his plan's flexibility. It did not say the Treasury should cut more to allow more i

Deutsche Bank AGM halted by protesters

Deutsche Bank's chief executive Anshu Jain was forced to abandon a speech at his company's annual meeting in Frankfurt yesterday after investors mounted a protest.

Meet the new Goldman as shareholders back board

Goldman Sachs unveiled new measures to protect its reputation yesterday, by safeguarding against deals that might harm its standing, as shareholders at the investment bank's annual meeting in Salt Lake City re-elected the Goldman board and endorsed pay packages for top executives.

Shares worldwide go on the slide

Nervous investors interrupted the global market rally last night, with major indices in Japan, the UK and across Europe turning negative in the face of economic concerns.

Flybe hits out at Gatwick over 'discrimination'

Flybe has hit out at the owners of Gatwick, claiming the airline's decision to sell 25 take-off and landing slots at the base to easyJet for £20m was due to the airport's "discriminatory" treatment of smaller airlines.

Plea to Fiat not to abandon Italy

The Italian Industry Minister, Flavio Zanonato, has asked Fiat to stay in Italy following its planned merger with Chrysler, which has led labour unions to fear that the car maker plans to move its headquarters to the United States.