Britain has become a worse credit risk than McDonald's and a host of other large companies, figures produced for The Independent reveal.

The Japanese economy is shrinking at a faster-than-expected rate, new figures have revealed, as the country battles against the economic downturn.

Germany, Canada and Spain have been voted the easiest countries in which to settle, yet most expats buy property in France, according to HSBC Bank International.

New Star has confirmed it has received and is considering a number of offers from third parties to acquire the company's business.

Nationwide International has launched Issue 8 of its Lifetime Guarantee Account while Bradford & Bingley International (B&B) has released New Fixed Interest Rate Bond Issue 52.

The UK's economic slowdown took a severe turn for the worse as figures revealed industrial output fell 1.4% between September and October, more than three times as much as many economists had expected.

UK stocks rebounded on Tuesday led by significant gains for Stagecoach , owner of Britain's biggest rail franchise.

The Law Society is calling for an urgent examination into the HIPs process by the Office of Fair Trading(OFT) following the announcement that from next April, the packs will be required as soon as a property comes onto the market.

ABN AMRO bank Jersey has promoted Patrick Crowley to the position of country executive.

Ex-colleagues of Lord David Lipsey have reacted furiously to the reasons he gave for quitting his role as chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel (FSCP) after only six months.