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The latest round of trade talks between the UK and India is expected to end without a breakthrough on major issues, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The two sides still face hurdles in areas such as goods, services, and investment. With India's general election approaching in April, there is not enough time for further discussions before the election. Both countries hope to resume negotiations after the election, but a deal may not be reached until later in the year. A trade agreement with India is seen as a significant achievement for the UK post-Brexit, but negotiations have been delayed by disputes over various issues. [Extracted from the article]

Metro Bank Holdings Plc, a UK lender, has announced plans to cut around 800 jobs and review its branch opening hours as part of a cost reduction plan. The bank aims to achieve potential cost savings of up to £50 million per year, an increase from the previous target of £30 million. The changes are expected to reduce headcount by 20% and will be implemented in the first quarter of 2024. Metro Bank will also focus more on higher yielding corporate and commercial lending. These measures come after shareholders approved a capital raise as part of a £925 million rescue deal. Metro Bank, which launched in 2010 as the UK's first new high-street bank in over a century, has faced financial challenges in recent years. [Extracted from the article]

That poll is the latest in a strong of downbeat reports on confidence, which seem to be painting a far bleaker picture of the UK economy than hard data or company earnings. Yet the current environment could prove more challenging than usual for CFOs, whose average age is 52 among FTSE 100 companies. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Veolia Environnement SA is nearing a deal to sell Suez SA's UK waste business to Macquarie Group Ltd. for about 2.5 billion euros ($2.5 billion) to resolve antitrust concerns, people with knowledge of the matter said. Spokespeople for Macquarie and Veolia declined to comment, while a representative for Suez couldn't immediately be reached outside regular business hours. [Extracted from the article]

British satellite firm OneWeb is nearing a deal to combine with France's Eutelsat Communications SA in a transaction that would create a pan-European operator that could better compete with Elon Musk's Starlink project, according to people familiar with the matter. Paris-listed Eutelsat, with a market value of about 2.4 billion euros ($2.5 billion), is backed by French state investment firm BPIFrance SA and is also a minority investor in OneWeb. [Extracted from the article]

British satellite firm OneWeb is nearing a deal to combine with France's Eutelsat Communications SA in a transaction that would create a pan-European operator that could better compete with Elon Musk's Starlink project, according to people familiar with the matter. A deal with Eutelsat would be a rare example of a UK and a French company merging, and one that involves two state-backed companies shows how much the two governments are getting involved in the telecommunications industry. [Extracted from the article]

The firm is believed to have put out inquiries with government to gauge its appetite for a bid for a critical piece of U.K. infrastructure, the newspaper reported, without saying where it obtained the information. Private equity firm Bartons Family Capital is weighing a takeover of the U.K. Stanlow oil refinery, The Times reported on Sunday. [Extracted from the article]

In September, Grifols SA agreed to buy Creat's Biotest AG for about 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion), pouncing after U.S. regulators pushed back on the Chinese group's expansion into the blood-plasma industry. (Bloomberg) -- Permira is nearing a deal to buy U.K.-based blood-plasma firm Bio Products Laboratory Ltd. from China's Creat Group Corp., according to people familiar with the matter. [Extracted from the article]

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jonathan Palmer estimatesMcKesson's continental European and U.K. businesses couldbe valued at $3 billion to $4 billion, based on the pricethat AmerisourceBergen paid for the Walgreens assets, andbecause the McKesson units are less profitable. (Bloomberg) -- American pharmaceutical distributorMcKesson Corp. is exploring a sale of its Europeanbusiness, according to people familiar with the matter,in a move that would reverse its $8.3 billion purchase ofGermany's Celesio AG in 2014. [Extracted from the article]

A prescription vending machine outside Well Pharmacy on Park Lane, in Poynton, United Kingdom, has been used by 30% of patients during normal business hours, with use doubling during the first coronavirus pandemic lockdown, according to a Poynton Post report.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Bloomberg) -- Marston's Plc has received a takeover approach from Platinum Equity, the latest attempt by a private equity firm to buy a storied British pub operator. There is no certainty of a firm offer from Platinum, Marston's said in its statement. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. pub operator Marston's Plc is attracting takeover interest from buyout firms including Platinum Equity, people with knowledge of the matter said. Platinum Equity has made an initial approach to Marston's about a potential deal to take the company private, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. business leaders called for a government rescue of Eurostar International Ltd. as border closures aimed at halting new strains of Covid-19 threaten to push the Channel Tunnel rail operator toward collapse. The company, which has its headquarters in London and employs 1,200 people in the U.K., also hasn't qualified for emergency agreements to rescue domestic British rail operators or bail out the London subway. [Extracted from the article]

The article informs that British government has been issued with a "letter before action" from the Keep Sunday Special group, setting out plans for a future Judicial Review on the proposals to allow councils to allow shops to open longer on Sundays. It presents the points made in the letter such as failing to publish the number of responses to the consultation, no publication of assessment of the Government's proposals under the Prime Minister's own family test, and use of outdated evidence.

Pubs across the country have said they will remain open unless they are ordered to close as the coronavirus outbreak continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that British government's response to its consultation on the devolution of Sunday opening hours ignores the views of wholesalers, small shops, shop workers and the majority of shoppers. It mentions views of Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) Chief Executive James Bielby, on losing trade as a result of the changes by distributors.

The article informs that British government's response to its consultation on the devolution of Sunday opening hours ignores the views of wholesalers, small shops, shop workers and the majority of shoppers. It mentions views of Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) Chief Executive James Bielby, on losing trade as a result of the changes by distributors.

What are the changes to licensing hours for the royal wedding and how can pubs benefit from this opportunity? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parliament has announced that pubs will be able to extend their opening hours throughout the weekend of the royal wedding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that British Prime Minister's plan to relax Sunday trading laws was opposed by Conservative Members of Parliament.

The article discusses the installation of an inboard plant and condenser at a Southern Co-operative "Welcome" franchise store in Hamphshire, England. Topics include the importance of product design and expertise to the success of convenience store projects that involve design, installation, and operation of refrigeration and air conditioning and factors that pose challenge to convenience store projects including late opening hours and close proximity to homes and other businesses.

The article reports on the argument for non-taditional trading hours among fast food, pub, and restaurant operators in Great Britain.