The founder of high street chain French Connection today defended the retailer against criticism that he holds too much power at the company.

The pensions of thousands of workers facing redundancy at car giant MG Rover will be protected thanks to new measures which only came into force on Wednesday, experts said today.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered today for a march against a controversial animal research centre which is being built by Oxford University.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s looks set to avoid an embarrassing defeat at its annual general meeting tomorrow following the intervention of the Sainsbury family.

Sainsbury’s today said it had reversed its controversial decision to give former chairman Peter Davis shares worth about £2.3m (€3.4m).

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is facing an investor rebellion over a pay settlement for ousted chairman Peter Davis, it was reported today.

The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) in the UK is questioning a bonus payment made to the chief executive of troubled mortgage lender Abbey National.

MATTHEW BARRETT the Irishman who heads Britain’s Barclays bank is to see his annual pay package double to stg£3.9 million, it emerged yesterday.

UK stationary group WH Smith has been criticised for awarding its new chief executive £1.2m (€1.7m) in one-off payments not linked to performance, following a poor Christmas performance for the company.

Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline today bowed to shareholder pressure and unveiled revised pay and rewards contracts for executives.

THE investment community have certainly been rolling out the red carpet for James Murdoch, BSkyB’s chief executive designate.

Supermarket giant Tesco faced tough questions from shareholders today at the same time as it unveiled further strong sales growth.

UK supermarket giant Tesco unveiled further strong sales growth today as it prepared to face shareholders over controversial board contracts.

EXECUTIVES at HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe's largest bank by market value, and food retailer Tesco may be next to face outrage from their shareholders for being paid too much, investors said.

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline was today poised for what could be the biggest shareholder rebellion over “fat cat” pay ever seen in the UK.

ONE of the best known names in US investment management, Warren Buffett, has launched a high profile assault on executive greed in the US.

THE long-running battle for Arnotts, one of the country’s best known department stores, may come to a head this week with the lodgement of two indicative offers this week.

Shareholders in oil giant Shell today backed a package of rewards which offers senior executives shares worth up to twice their salary.

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline is heading for another face-off with shareholders at its annual general meeting next month over a “golden farewell” package for chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier.

The chief executive of BP took a 32% pay cut last year, according to the oil giant’s annual report – as the company’s share price slumped to four-year lows.

Investors were urged to sit tight today as the FTSE 100 looked set to close at a new seven-and-a-half year low.