Finance

Close Brothers has reported a 21% rise in pre-tax profits to 163.1m in its preliminary results for the year to 31 July 2013 on the back of increased lending to SMEs.

Deficits, cuts and public spending have been the defining topic of political discourse in post-crunch Britain, which means the subject of taxation is never far behind.

Royal Mail kicked off its initial public offering (IPO) today just as the CWU was sending out ballot papers to postal workers for strike action opposing the privatisation.

Ed Miliband will announce plans to freeze small business rates for two years, from April 2015 to April 2017, in his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference this afternoon.

Former Cromwell Press director Andrew Hemmings was fined 1,000 at Swindon Crown Court last week (19 September) after admitting fraud.

The Bank of England (BoE) has launched a two-month public consultation on plans to switch its banknotes to polymer from 2016 at the earliest.

UK micro-businesses will no longer have to undertake the same depth of accounts reporting as other businesses after new measures gained approval.

Guardian News and Media (GNM) is in consultation with staff at its two print facilities after the company announced a proposed restructure.

Digital press manufacturer Xeikon has cited an improved product mix and strict cost management measures for strong profit growth in the six months to 30 June 2013.

Kodak is set to emerge from Chapter 11 on 3 September after the US Bankruptcy Court approved its reorganisation plan.