Brexit and Covid blamed as Asia-UK shipping rates increase fourfold
Port congestion and skeleton staffing cause shortage of freight containers while consumer demand rebounds
FTSE 100 surges as City guru warns of stock market bubble risk
Index climbs close to pre-Covid level despite concerns over ‘hysterical’ investor behaviour
World Bank calls for rapid action to prevent Covid debt crisis
Institution says pandemic has led to sharpest rise in government debt in more than 30 years
The world in 2021 – how global politics will change this year
Donald Trump’s departure will alter the face of geopolitics. The climate crisis and Covid response will affect all nations – while others face very particular challenges. Observer correspondents examine the 12 months ahead
London shares close at highest level since Covid outbreak
Late Brexit deal spurs FTSE 100 upwards as traders shrug off surge in coronavirus cases
China and EU poised to sign long-delayed investment deal
Deal set to anger incoming Biden administration in US, which demanded to be consulted before deal went ahead
China to overtake US as world’s biggest economy by 2028, report predicts
Centre for Economics and Business Research says it expects this to happen half a decade sooner than it forecast a year ago
Markets at record highs amid rising optimism of a pandemic recovery
Investors bet Covid vaccines and stimulus measures will propel economy forward in 2021
UK and US close to deal on cutting tariffs, says White House trade chief
Talks on reducing charges on items such as Scotch whisky follow UK move to drop levy on Boeing
Ikea latest firm to suffer shortages and delays due to clogged UK ports
Swedish chain says it is struggling to meet demand and apologises to customers
‘Be careful what you wish for’: Boris Johnson warned over ‘Australia-style’ Brexit trade deal
The former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says his country’s trade deal with the EU is ‘not one Britain would want, frankly’
World Bank ‘missed vital opportunities’ to support Covid response, says Oxfam
Millions forced to do without or pay for services as funding fails to adequately shore up healthcare systems, report finds
OECD: UK economic recovery will lag behind all rivals bar Argentina
Thinktank says Brexit represents double threat to UK growth
Asian manufacturing boom offers hope for swifter global recovery from Covid
Markets respond as manufacturing in China and South Korea grows at fastest pace in a decade
Things are looking up for oil, but Opec can’t uncross its fingers just yet
Despite good vaccine news and price rises, the cartel could still meet a few bumps in the road – some of them of its own making