Bloomberg New Jersey lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a jet-fuel tax that would force United Continental Holdings Inc. to pay for expanded passenger rail at Newark Liberty International Airport. Airlines are exempt from the state’s gross-receipts tax on petroleum products, with the exception of the fuel used during taxiing and take-off. A bill approved by the Senate budget committee would …

Bloomberg Next Plc raised its sales and profit outlook for the year, a rare bright spot in a season of woe for UK retailers struggling against soaring summer temperatures and the threat of Amazon.com Inc. The apparel chain had warned in August that a boost to summer sales in early summer would wane as the season dragged on. Instead, the …

Bloomberg Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is exploring the sale of its retail portfolio, according to people familiar with the matter. The D.C.-based REIT is working with an adviser, which has contacted potential buyers, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information is private. The portfolio could fetch roughly $800 million, one of the people …