Britain’s competition regulator has approved plans by Lloyds Banking Group to sell 631 branches, potentially clearing the way for the coalition government to start selling its shares in the bank this week.

Views on just what good-value hotel deals online bookers are getting are being sought by fair trading chiefs in the UK.

The full force of the law should be available against oil executives who are found to have fixed prices, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated.

Household drinks brands Lucozade and Ribena are set to be put up for sale for as much as €1.1bn, it was reported today.

The UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has accused GlaxoSmithKline of paying generic manufacturers to delay the production of a generic equivalent of its antidepressant paroxetine, which it makes in Cork.

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline was today accused by the UK's competition watchdog of paying off firms to delay the launch of cheap versions of its antidepressant treatment in a move that denied the British National Health Service “significant” cost savings.

So-called “free” web and app-based games for children are under investigation in the UK following concerns that users can run up substantial costs.

Some computer games and phone apps are being investigated after claims children are being exploited by manufacturers.

Mercedes-Benz and three commercial vehicle dealers are to pay fines totalling £2.6m (€2.98m) following an inquiry into market rigging.

The UK's trading watchdog has imposed new requirements on NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), following concerns about banks apparently being overly-zealous when linking people’s unpaid debts to their homes.

Ryanair has appointed the former secretary general of the Department of Transport, Julie O’Neill, to the board of Ryanair Holdings.

Ryanair passengers are to face extra charges.

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will name the next Governor of the Bank of England in a statement to the House of Commons today.

The Bank of England could name its new governor this week amid pressure to appoint a successor to Mervyn King before the Chancellor’s autumn statement.

Several payday lenders are facing formal investigations over the use of “aggressive debt collection” methods, the trading watchdog said today.

Payday lender Wonga has seen UK profits surge after approving nearly 2.5 million short-term loans in its last financial year.

UK airport operator BAA is to give up its long legal battle over the forced sale of Stansted Airport.

The operator of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels deflected attention away from a probe by regulators as it announced a big pay-out for shareholders.

Ryanair has asked European competition regulators to approve its €694m takeover bid for Aer Lingus, in what could be an uphill battle after an EU veto against a previous offer.

Britain’s Office of Fair Trading is forcing airlines to include debit card surcharges in the headline prices that they advertise.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in the UK has referred Ryanair's stake in Aer Lingus to the Competition Commission.

Britain’s Office of Fair Trading has until June 18 to complete its investigation into Ryanair’s minority stake in Aer Lingus, after Ryanair failed to secure a Supreme Court order to halt the investigation.

The UK's motor insurance market was today facing an investigation by the Competition Commission after a report found the market was “dysfunctional” and pushed up premiums by £225m (€281m) a year.

Ryanair is appealing directly to the UK Supreme Court to try to stop the Office of Fair Trading from investigating the airline’s shareholding and attempted takeover of Aer Lingus six years ago.

Irish construction services group Siteserv has gained overwhelming shareholder approval for its sale to one of Denis O’Brien’s investment firms.

The British government will tomorrow "accept in full" radical plans to shake up the banking industry despite fears the measures will harm the economy, UK Business Secretary Vince Cable said today.

Five major publishing houses and technology company Apple are being investigated by EU competition watchdogs to see if they have colluded to restrict competition in the market for e-books.

THE collapse of Home Payments Ltd highlighted the urgent need to regulate commercial fee-charging debt management firms.

London’s leading index closed higher for a third day running as investors shrugged off fears of a slowdown in the euro region.

London’s blue chips recovered more ground as markets across Europe ended a volatile week on a rising note.

KERRY Group has entered exclusive talks with US-based agri-food group Cargill over buying its global flavours business.

BRITAIN’S media watchdog said it will contact police to determine if phone-hacking allegations at the News of the World are relevant to whether News Corp would be a “fit and proper” owner of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

Irish Life & Permanent has appointed former UK post Office MD Alan Cook as chairman of the group with immediate effect.

CONTROVERSIAL add- on charges for card payments imposed by airlines and other companies for online bookings are to face a major challenge as a result of a complaint by a British consumer rights body.

Britains' Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt kept the door ajar for News Corporation’s planned takeover of BSkyB today when he delayed a decision on whether to refer the deal for a full-blown competition inquiry.

Seven insurance companies – including UK giants Aviva and Royal Sun Alliance - are under investigation after the UK's consumer watchdog raised concerns over the use of industry software which could lead to illegal price co-ordination.

The FTSE 100 Index closed in the red for a second straight session today after a mixed report on the US jobs market.

The proposed takeover by holiday giant Thomas Cook of two British travel businesses was referred to UK competition authorities by EU regulators today.

Cautious trading ahead of key US jobs data left the FTSE 100 Index in the red today as investors moved to lock-in recent gains.

The planned merger of the high street travel businesses of Thomas Cook and the Co-op has been referred to the UK's Office of Fair Trading for investigation, it emerged today.

The proposed merger of the high street travel businesses of Thomas Cook and the Co-op was dealt a blow today after the Office of Fair Trading said the move significantly threatened competition.

THE Government will only sell its 25% stake in Aer Lingus to a party that can guarantee its independence from arch-rival Ryanair, the Aer Lingus chief executive told Reuters.