Bloomberg Bankrupt contractor Carillion Plc was taking about four months to pay its suppliers before its January collapse. The minister respo- nsible for small firms says 30 days should become the national norm. The government must “make it unacceptable for big business to finance their cash flow from small business,” Small Business Minister Andrew Griffiths said in an interview. They ...

Bloomberg German exports fell the most in more than five years at the start of 2018, holding back growth in Europe’s largest economy. A breakdown of first-quarter gross domestic product data showed foreign sales fell 1 percent, the most since 2012. Imports also declined, and net trade knocked 0.1 percentage point off GDP. “The drop in exports could be a ...

Bloomberg The UK should reduce its reliance on huge cables that carry electricity to and from Europe to ensure that the lights stay on. The government is overlooking the risks of relying on supplies that may not materialise, according to a report by Oxford, England-based Aurora Energy Research Ltd. Electricity on interconnector cables flows to where prices are more expensive, ...