BUSINESS

In the superb 1927 silent film "Napoleon", by French director Abel Gance, there is a curious moment when the Corsican hero of the film, portrayed by Albert Dieudonné, muses prophetically that one day Europe will be united by neither cannon nor cavalry charge but by treaties and pieces of paper.

Energy giant's chairman Jorma Ollila says Shell is focusing on successor for outgoing CEO.

Gross mortgage lending in April rises to £12.1bn, 4% up from March.

Average home prices in London rises 7.6% on year to £398,000.

Buckles resigns just months after appearing before MPs to admit 'humiliating shambles' at London 2012.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore said on Tuesday (May 21) that Ireland was not to blame for computer giant Apple's low global tax payments.

April's CPI inflation reading drops to 2.4% from March's 2.8%, reports ONS.

Revenue from the Asia Pacific region accounts for a little over a third of the group's business.

Pre-tax profit declines to £3.3bn from £9.5bn last year.

Work and Pensions Committee launches attack on government's flagship welfare-to-work programme.

CEO Marc Bolland is under pressure to revive M&S's clothing business.

Federation of Small Businesses report found members were losing on average £4,000 each from cyber crime.

Glencore, Vitol, Gunvor and Mercuria asked by European Commission for details on pricing structures.

Peter Harris, co-founder of British chocolatier Hotel Chocolat, spoke about how his firm raised more then £4m from "chocolate bonds".

Chinese authorities say the country's poultry industry has been badly affected by bird flu outbreak.

Industrialist Viktor Pinchuk takes Gennadiy Bogolyubov and Igor Kolomoisky to London’s High Court over iron ore deal.

UK business secretary said EU state aid law will mean £1bn business bank will not pay out for another year.

India and China have signed eight agreements on the second day of Premier Li Keqiang's visit.

Russian media magnate Alexander Lebedev said as he went on trial on Monday (May 20) that he didn't think he was guilty in a televised punch-up with another Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky.

FirstGroup plans a £615m rights issue, following which Chairman Martin Gilbert would step down.

Consumer Price Inflation may not dip below 2.5% before 2016, says the Ernst & Young Item Club.

Nigel Green, CEO at deVere Group says it's delusional to believe FTT will exclusively target so-called City fat cats

Full-year profits rise 13% to €569m, as passenger traffic increased by 5% to 79.3 million.

Labour unveils plans to clamp down on tax avoidance following Google, Amazon and Starbucks furore.

The Bangalore-based firm is already contesting previous tax demands for financial years 2005 to 2008.

Markit Household Finance Index rises to 40.4 in May from 37.7 in April.

IBTimes UK takes a look at the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and PwC report highlights

UN and PwC warn businesses are systemically vulnerable to mass economic losses due to natural hazards as trade becomes more international

One in eight UK shops remain vacant in April, the highest rate since the BRC study began in July 2011.