This week’s vote looks like being a tight contest, though President Obama seems to be increasing his lead over Mitt Romney. However, America still faces hard decisions about its longer term fiscal policy.

Comet went into administration on Friday. But turnaround group OpCapita and its investors, who bought it for £2 a year ago, will keep Triptych, an insurer based in the Caribbean.

Key figures out tomorrow for Britain’s vital services sector are expected to provide a sobering backdrop to this week’s meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee.

Equalities Minister Helen Grant, pictured, who is also a solicitor, made the unauthorised change to the standard job contract issued by the parliamentary authorities for MPs to use when taking on staff.

A landmark court ruling says the taxman must take account of the financial impact on small builders of any penalties.

As if to prove that companies investing in India can deliver value to shareholders, HaloSource has had an extraordinary run since Midas Extra recommended the shares just three and a half weeks ago (October 10).

Official statistics recognise when we pay less for more, but not when we pay more for less. This means that we are almost certainly understating inflation.

Basic bank accounts are not the most glamorous of financial products. But they offer an essential financial lifeline to more than eight million customers who otherwise might not have a current account.

The guiding principle must be taxation which is low, simple and compulsory rather than the dog’s breakfast we have at the moment. But reform requires more than just chasing the tax dodgers and closing the loopholes.

Some 31 per cent of those surveyed said they have less than £250 set aside as a safety net if something goes wrong

Pennies donated this week through the British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal could help put pounds in the wallets of deserving Service families.

Last year we did not receive a tax return, and assumed that as the Revenue were fully aware of our financial situation, we need not worry. But now we are being told we owe penalties of more than £600.

The FSA says rate reduction will avoid consumers taking out personal pensions being given a 'false impression' of the return they might receive upon retiring.

HMRC chief executive Lin Homer (pictured) is to be grilled by MPs next week after it emerged just one person on the 'Lagarde List' of thousands of Brits with secret Swiss bank accounts has been prosecuted.

In the last two days, top-paying easy-access rates have been pulled. This means the average best buy rate for this type of account is 2.5% - down from 3.22% in July.

The cost of receiving a call in the US will rise from 39p to 90p per minute and making a call will go up from 90p to £1.10.

Shoppers at Tesco have been able to bulk buy six bottles of £9.99 wine, usually worth £59.94, for less than the price of one bottle after a glitch on the supermarket’s computer system.

It had hoped to have 20 of its distinctive store-type branches open for business by the end of 2012, but had reckoned without the objections of councillors and planning officials.

Marc Bolland will reveal that M&S;’s website is profitable, unlike those of many of its rivals. He will also reveal that one in eight of its clothing and home products is sold online.

Experian found that eight out of the top 10 insolvency hotspots were in Scotland and that only one out of the ten towns with the highest insolvency level - Motherwell, near Glasgow - was inland.

Four councils – the Isle of Wight, West Berkshire, Mid-Suffolk District and South Tyneside Metropolitan argued they should not have paid VAT on off-street parking fees.

The third-quarter figures for the state-backed lender were marred by a £400m provision to compensate customers mis-sold payment protection insurance and a £1.5bn charge against the value of its own debt.

The payout, taken from documents filed by Selfridges Holdings Limited, brings the total dividend in the past four years to £216million.

Aldi's £7.99 orange-topped pudding came second after Good Housekeeping magazine described it as 'delicious' and 'a real bargain', while Fortnum & Mason's £24.95 version was 'a real disappointment' in 29th place out of 32 tested.

The Kent firm, which makes the Perfectly Clear water brand and the 1870 range of mixers, went into administration at the end of September.

The economic downturn has resulted in drivers become a legion of thrifty bargain hunters, with the average buyer shaving £939 off a new or used car.

Fewer million-pound homes were sold in the first half of the year than there have been for three years, according to new research by Lloyds TSB.

I've not heard one high-profile economist, banker, journalist or politician - those who can actually influence the fixing of 'this mess' - suggest that the economic crisis is a result of our system of money.

After being faced with legal action from customers who claim the mobile firm has breached its contract it has begun to quietly settle with a number of customers.

House prices are inching up but estate agents warn that over-optimistic sellers unwilling to cut their asking prices will not get a sold sign up. So what now for property?