What's in store for Waterstone's?

The fate of struggling music group HMV and its Waterstone's book chain has been of more than just passing interest to investors. The decline of HMV, which came perilously close to administration in recent months, is a story of our times.

No other British retailer has been more affected by the digital revolution.

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The French have it again...

Normally the goings-on at the International Monetary Fund struggle to find space in the business sections, let alone the front pages, of our national newspapers.

But an odd confluence of events - the priapic behaviour of former managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the on-going crisis in the euro zone and the struggle over who will succeed DSK (as he is known) - at the Fund have moved it to

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Chin up, things ain't that bad

The recovery of the advanced economies from the 'great recession' of 2008-09 has been stuttering. This is not surprising. Countries rarely bounce back from slumps in a straight line, especially after a financial shock on the scale which brought the world economy to a shuddering halt in the Autumn of 2008.

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The Glencore Jew in the glare

Just a few weeks ago, the name Ivan Glasenberg would have attracted little recognition outside of Switzerland, where his company Glencore is based. But the decision to list on the London and Hong Kong stock markets has catapulted the South-African entrepreneur to the top of Europe's rich list.

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The West is key in MENA future

The turmoil in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region, which began with riots in Algeria and Tunisia in December 2010, has been unprecedented in its scope.

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London gets ready for giant Glencore

The upcoming London and Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) of the secretive global commodities, mining and production group Glencore International AG, will be one of the most fascinating of modern times. In size terms alone it will be the biggest ever flotation on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) raising up to $11 billion of new cash and valuing the whole group at around $45 billion.

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Have the banks not learned?

In the light of the bonuses paid by Britain's big banks over the past few weeks - including the 100 or so new millionaires created at the state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland - one might have thought that the crisis, which enveloped the financial system in 2007-08, was over.

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Tchenguiz arrests put SFO in limelight

The high-profile dawn raids and arrests of the Iranian-born Tchenguiz brothers, Robert and Vincent, is a big test for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which is masterminding the case against them.

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Middle East crisis: threat to us all

Now the North Africa and Middle-East crisis is getting really serious.

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The online battle for retailers

When new chief executives, Marc Bolland and Dalton Philips recently took control at Marks & Spencer and grocer Wm Morrison, respectively, both pledged to play catch-up on internet sales. Whereas market leader Tesco and Waitrose-partner Ocado have made a good fist of having success online and developed strong brands, others have lagged behind.

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