Week in pictures: January 4

Weighing in at 16kg with a price tag of more than £7,500, the silk-bound 700-page book, "New York", is the latest to tap into a booming collector's market. (Read the article) Photograph: PR

The self-styled 'chubby grocer' - Waitrose MD Mark Price - is aiming to be a far more streamlined shopkeeper within the next three months, pledging to lose 10cm (4in) off his waist by Easter. (Read the article) Photograph: Sean Smith/Corbis

Gold surged above $910 to another historic high as the continuing slide in the US dollar and expectations of sharp interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve prompted investors to snap up the metal. Analysts at Citigroup predicted that prices will break through $1,000 an ounce this year. Read the article Photograph: Newscast

A surge of customers in the run-up to Christmas has boosted profits at Game Group, Europe's largest computer game retailer. (Read the article) Photograph: David Parry/Newscast

A slew of successful British films, including the blockbuster James Bond thriller Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig (above) helped DVD sales rack up a new record in 2007. (Read the article) Photograph: Getty

Waitrose, the John Lewis-owned supermarket chain, is to open more than 20 stores in Dubai by 2010 in its first foray abroad. (Read the article) Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty

The Financial Services Authority is thought to be investigating a big jump in the share price of the waste services group Biffa, ahead of news that it had received a £1bn bid approach from two private equity firms. (Read the article) Photograph: Jason Hawkes/Getty

Shares in DSG took a severe knock after the electrical retailer warned on profits and a "more cautious" outlook this year following a poor Christmas for laptops. (Read the article) Photograph: David Devins/Newscast

Thousands of jobs would be at risk, according to analysts, if the Spanish banking group Santander proceeded with a £3bn bid for Alliance & Leicester. (Read the article) Photograph: Pedro Armestre/AFP

Fashion chain Next has warned of growing pressure on sales as the gloom on the high street deepens. (Read the article) Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian