An Oxford University spinout which is developing a new generation of weed-resistant herbicides has begun planting a $40m (£32m) fundraising with prospective backers.

The cost of living crisis has “boosted” the secondhand industry, Sky News has been told, as more than £2bn is spent on pre-loved gifts this Christmas.

Cadbury says it is "disappointed" after losing its royal warrant after 170 years.

Aviva has agreed a deal to buy rival company Direct Line for £3.7bn ahead of a Christmas Day deadline.

A leading construction industry body has warned the prime minister that measures unveiled in the budget will "fatally undermine" family-run companies in the sector, adding to the business backlash facing the government since the end of October.

Japanese car giants, Honda and Nissan, have announced plans to merge.

The UK economy showed no growth in the last quarter, according to the revised figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The UK economy is "headed for the worst of all worlds" as businesses expect activity to fall at the start of next year, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

An electric cargo bike logistics company which counts the fashion giant Zara among its partners has launched an urgent hunt for new backers.

Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England governor, will join Rachel Reeves on a visit to China next month aimed at strengthening financial services trade ties between the two countries.

Retail giants including Asda, Marks & Spencer, Primark and Tesco will mount a new year campaign to warn Rachel Reeves that plans to hike business rates on larger shops will put jobs and stores under threat.

It would be easy to dismiss tabletop gaming as a "geeky" hobby played by young boys in the basements of their homes.

Tesla has recalled almost 700,000 of its electric vehicles because of an issue with the warning light on the tyre pressure monitoring system.

British billionaire Mike Ashley has been denied a seat on the board of fast-fashion business Boohoo.

Government borrowing in November was the lowest for that month in three years, according to official figures.

The group which represents hundreds of European football teams including Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich has dismissed the latest bid to revive a European Super League project as a "disruptive" campaign led by "separatist self-interested clubs".

The mother of a young man crushed to death in a work accident has said her son was "full of hopes and dreams" and his family has been "robbed" of sharing in those with him.

The UK's retail sales recovery was smaller than expected in the key Christmas shopping month of November, official figures show.

UK car manufacturing fell again in November, the ninth month of decline in a row, according to industry data.

Londoners officially have lower tolerance for the cold than people in other parts of the UK.