Thursday’s here again and it’s time to devote a bit of effort to learning what the big business stories of the past week were; read on for a selection.

It’s summer, it’s likely that your exams are over and it’s time to kick back, right?

Apparently it’s “Super Thursday” again, so if you’re interested in the vicissitudes of rising and falling rates and markets, follow the Guardian’s live business blog for a blow-by-blow account. For other commercial news, check this selection out.

What’s different about today? It no ordinary Thursday – it’s Super Thursday! Which means that the Bank of England is making a decision on interest rates, releasing minutes from its most recent policy-setting meeting and publishing its Quarterly Inflation Report. Follow it live on the Guardian’s live business blog. And don’t forget about these other important business-driven stories from the past week.

When the weather closes in, and all you want to do is hunker down, what better way to spend those long, dark winter days and nights than boning up on your commercial awareness?

No preamble required: straight in with this week’s essential business reading.

Another week, another set of business stories to keep on top of. Here are just some of the stories that you should lavish your attention on.

We know it’s hard to concentrate on life beyond the soporific qualities of the summer holiday, euphoria at England trouncing Australia at cricket and general idleness now that your training contract applications are in.

You may find yourself being quizzed on your knowledge of economic affairs in vac scheme interviews, so it pays to be prepared. Here’s a selection from the past week to get you started.

Well, the Panama Papers make for a revealing read - not that you have to actually read all 11 million of them, just digest what the papers are saying about them. For the tax-avoiding rich and powerful, it’s a nail-biting time as the world gets to see exactly how they hide their millions away. Read on for this and other enlightening business news from the past week: 

We hope that you are spending a good chunk of your time today (i) voting, and (ii) following the rolling news coverage, but do take a moment to cast an eye over these commercially interesting stories as well.

In addition to legal knowledge, firms expect their lawyers to have commerciality and business nous – a failure to do so leaves clients unhappy and deals undone.

Commercial awareness; you can’t have too much of it and the more you work at it, the deeper and more nuanced yours will become.

For many, the first week back after the Christmas break can be a trying time, requiring a slow and painful reintegration to the work environment.

Short week means a short round-up, but still packed with interesting stuff.

You may well be in the midst of a training contract application frenzy, but don’t panic; one of the best things you can do to help your chances is hone your commercial awareness skills.

In a week that marked International Women’s Day, the staggering lack of equality for women in terms of pay and positions of seniority was widely reported. Clearly on board for change were the senior law firm leaders that called for 40% female leadership within the next three years.

A decidedly autumnal feel in the air should invoke that "back to school" feeling, sharpening the senses and focusing the mind on the new term ahead. 

The best commercial lawyers have their fingers firmly on the pulse of the business world.

Slightly off piste, but we thought this was too good not to share. This article from the Guardian has excellent networking tips, especially for those of us not naturally inclined to forcing our way into conversations and being charming, all while balancing a plate and drink aloft.