George Osborne has pledged a major shake-up to "restore trust in the tax system" and end Gordon Brown's stealth tax regime.

Watson Wyatt Worldwide and Mariátegui JLT Corredores de Seguros announced today that they have formed a marketing alliance to provide total compensation and employee benefit consulting services to employers in Peru. Watson Wyatt, a global consulting firm, is a leading provider of HR consulting services; Mariátegui JLT Corredores de Seguros is a leading provider of insured benefit solutions. [LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN]

Employers should factor in the provision of personal financial advice ahead of implementing voluntary redundancy programmes, according to consultants Watson Wyatt. [EUROPE]

The Swedish government's privatisation programme moved another step forward with the sale of Vasakronan, a property company, for SKr41.1bn. This sends a strong signal to any future TeliaSonera bidders that it can hold firm on its price expectations

The market research group rapidly rejected a fresh indicative offer from Sir Martin Sorrell's advertising group, saying it 'substantially undervalues' TNS, which plans a nil-premium merger with Germany's GfK

Sweden's central bank has raised interest rates to 4.5 per cent, their highest level in 12 years, and said further increases were likely this year to bring inflation back from the current 4 per cent to within the bank's target of 2 per cent

Watson Wyatt Worldwide y Mariátegui JLT Corredores de Seguros anunció hoy que han formado una alianza de marketing para proveer servicios a empleadores en Perú de consultoría en compensación y beneficios para empleados. Watson Wyatt, una compañía global de consultoría, es líder en proveer servicios de consultoría en Recursos Humanos; Mariátegui JLT Corredores de Seguros es un líder en proveer beneficios asegurados. [LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN]

Watson Wyatt Worldwide e Mariátegui JLT Corredores de Seguros anunciaram hoje a formação de uma aliança comercial para fornecer serviços de consultoria de remuneração e benefícios aos empregadores no Peru. Watson Wyatt, uma empresa de consultoria global, e um provedor líder de serviços de consultoria de RH; Mariátegui JLT Corredores de Seguros e um provedor líder em soluções de benefícios segurados. [LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN]

London equities were volatile on Thursday, moving in and out of bear market territory as the market sought to reconcile concerns over inflation and surging oil prices with soothing data on the US economy

AP - Wary of higher energy and commodity prices, the European Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate Thursday by a quarter percentage point to 4.25 percent, a move it hopes will help curtail rising inflation in the 15 countries that use the euro.