Boom and bust

Sir Mervyn King has urged the Government not to delay reforming the financial sector and admitted more should have been done to avert the banking crisis.

Businesses with a turnover of less than £50m will receive cheaper loans under a government scheme which guarantees £20bn of loans from major high street banks.

A manager at US bank Goldman Sachs has published his resignation letter in the New York Times, condemning the company for “ripping off its clients” and accusing colleagues of “moral bankruptcy”.

One holds the UK economy in his hands. The other’s role is even more important – at least if you ask some people. Channel 4 News checks the Top Trumps cards of Stephen Hester and Fabio Capello.

Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Sir Philip Hampton tells Channel 4 News RBS boss Stephen Hester is “low paid” compared to others in the banking sector, but admits pay generally is “very high”.

The EU oil embargo on Iran shows how “black gold” can determine the decision-making of countries across the globe. But what does the future hold? Channel 4 News speaks to the experts.

Prime Minister David Cameron tells Europe it must be “bolder” and take difficult decisions in order to recover from its “perilous” economic state.

As China’s sovereign wealth fund makes its first UK infrastructure investment, buying a stake in Thames Water, Channel 4 News looks at what the deal means for both countries.

The camping and outdoor chain Blacks has gone into administration – the latest retailer brought down by the economic downturn. Channel 4 News looks at which shops are facing the most pain.

With austerity looming, pension strikes back on the agenda and youth unemployment on the rise, is intergenerational conflict inevitable? Channel 4 News hears from both sides.

Amid growing fears of intergenerational conflict in difficult economic times, Saga’s Ros Altmann writes for Channel 4 News on why the needs, rights and talents of our ageing population matter.

Nick Clegg is pledging to balance austerity in the public sector with a crackdown on top corporate pay so state employees do not feel like they are doing “all the heavy lifting”.

Working parents and businesses will benefit most from George Osborne’s autumn statement, as the chancellor tries to boost the ailing UK economy. Channel 4 News looks at what to watch out for.

With the OECD think tank predicting for the first time that Britain is about to slip back into recession, tomorrow’s autumn statement will include a slew of policies to boost growth.

Rolls-Royce is the poster boy for British manufacturing, but what is the future for the sector the government hopes can pull the UK out of recession? Business Correspondent Sarah Smith investigates.