Ireland gets nervous at prospect of 'Brexit' as election nears

A general election in Britain is always watched closely on the other side of the Irish Sea, not least because of the tumultuous political history linking the two islands.

Living wage increases to £7.85 an hour

The living wage has increased by 20p an hour to £7.85, boosting the pay of 35,000 low-paid workers in the UK.

Britain to stop housing benefit for jobless EU migrants in April

LONDON: Britain will stop helping jobless immigrants from other countries in the European Union with their housing costs from April, two cabinet ministers said on Monday, saying they wanted to reverse "a shameful betrayal" of British workers.

London steps up Islamic finance ambitions

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Britain is encouraging banks through a task force to establish sharia-compliant products, aiming to position London as a Western hub for a fast-growing Islamic finance sector that is expected to reach $2.6 trillion by 2017.

U.S. manufacturing demand, China services sector suggest growth

(Reuters) - Demand picked up in the U.S. manufacturing sector in August, data showed on Tuesday, which together with a report showing steady growth in China's services sector added to signs of strength in the world's two biggest economies.

UK to rebuff private equity, overseas funds in Lloyds sale - sources

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will start selling its shares in Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY.L - news) to pension funds and insurers later this year, rejecting interest from private equity and sovereign wealth funds, industry and political sources said.