United Kingdom

The Office for National Statistics is expected to release United Kingdom inflation data for April that will show a rise in the rate of inflation.

Since Scottish independence from the United Kingdom became a real political possibility following the election of a majority Scottish Nationalist Party government to the Scottish Parliament, critics ranging from MPs to generals have shot down SNP plans for an independent Scotland to "share" Britain's armed forces.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after HSBC published the results of a strategic review.

The election of the Scottish National Party in last Thursday’s elections to the Scottish Parliament shocked Great Britain and could even lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom. Yet the SNP is just the latest of many separatist movements to show signs of success, here we look at some of them and their leaders.

Shares in easyJet were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading despite the budget airline nearly doubling its losses in the half year ended 31 March.

Scottish independence has come to the forefront of politics thanks to the election of a majority Scottish National Party government to the Scottish Parliament last Thursday.

Shares in Centrica were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the energy company issued an update in which it predicted 2011 earnings growth at a "more modest" rate than previously expected.

The likelihood of a breakup of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland looked ominously closer today after the separatist Scottish National Party won an overall majority in elections for the devolved Scottish government.

Shares in Royal Dutch Shell were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the energy giant reported a strong rise in income attributable to shareholders in the first quarter of the year.

The Office for National Statistics is set to release GDP data for the United Kingdom tomorrow and it is expected that the figures will show a return to economic growth.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of results from Barclays, expected tomorrow.

Read here the full text of Chancellor George Osborne's Budget speech to the House of Commons.

Shares in Ted Baker were down on the FTSE All Share in afternoon trading after the clothing retailer reported a rise in sales in the period running from 14 November 2010 to 8 January 2011.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading despite the retailer reporting a rise in sales in the third quarter ended 1 January 2011.

The federal fiscal policy debate is being overwhelmed by a growing sense that America must slash its deficit now, before it is too late. Actually, the United States is in no danger of a Treasury debt crisis and can carry far more debt than people believe without dire consequences.

Shares in Mothercare were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the group said it had returned to profit in the half year ended 9 October.

Shares in Mothercare were down on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading ahead of the retailer's interim result, due out tomorrow.

Nigel Farage has been re-elected to serve as leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party just one year after giving up the job.

Shares in Mothercare were up on the FTSE 250 ahead of the retailer's second quarter trading statement.

Shares in easyJet took off on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the budget airline reported a rise in passengers and higher profit expectations despite strikes and Icelandic volcanoes.

Alliance Boots has said it will be cutting around 900 non-store jobs as part of a programme to create a "leaner central support organisation" for its Health & Beauty Division.

Shares in Tesco were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the supermarket giant reported double digit profit growth in the half year ended 28 August.

The Office of Fair Trading has said that it is considering an offer by Asda to sell 47 Netto stores in order to resolve concerns about local competition raised by Asda's proposed takeover of 194 Netto grocery stores.

Labour's new leader and possible next UK Prime Minister, will be announced on the 25th of this month. The contest started from the moment Gordon Brown conceded defeat and stood down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party after May's General Election gave the Conservatives the largest number of seats, though not a clear majority. There are five candidates standing: Diane Abbott, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham, David Miliband and his brother, Ed Miliband. These candidates offer those e...

Pope Benedict XVI has come to Britain with a message of friendship and warning, in what is the first Papal visit since that of the previous pope, John-Paul II, in 1982.

The Office for National Statistics this morning released data showing that the number of unemployed people fell by 8,000 to 2.47 million in the three months to July.

Shares in Barclays bank were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the company said that it would be recruiting for as many as 600 new jobs in Scotland.

Nigel Farage is to stand for the leadership of the United Kingdom Independence Party, almost a year after he stepped down from the post.

Shares in RBS were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading, despite Britain's largest trade union, Unite, accusing the bank of being a "horror story".

On Wednesday Richard Dawkins, the world's most famous atheist, appeared on More4 to launch his latest attack on all things God-related by laying into faith schools and their supposedly menacing impact on our society and its children.