Economics

The Royal Bank of Scotland is facing a criminal investigation over allegations the bank forced small businesses into default, according to reports.

Royal Mail reported a significant jump in profits this morning thanks to a number of one-off gains, as it posted its first set of results since listing.

The price of Brent crude oil has fallen as much as $3 per barrel, following a deal between Iran and other major world powers on nuclear activities.

The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) has criticised the methods used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) when it releases sensitive economic data.

It is still the main topic in town. We have had some wobbles in markets as investors have taken fright at the idea of fewer new dollars around.

Fidelity has written to the boards of more than 400 companies and warned them it will start voting against remuneration packages for bosses from January unless changes are made which lead to more long-term incentive plans.

Japanese markets have continued to surge back towards pre-financial crisis levels, with the latest move on Monday taking it within a whisker of a six-year high.

Lloyds Banking Group is set to sell a further 12% stake in wealth manager St James's Place (SJP) for £390m, according to reports.

RBS, the taxpayer-owned bank, has been accused of killing off small businesses to seize assets for its own property empire, in evidence referred to financial watchdogs by business secretary Vince Cable, according to reports.

Eclectica hedge fund manager Hugh Hendry has said he has been forced to leave his bearish outlook behind as he faces up to a market "which only makes sense through the prism of trends".