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New data shows new construction orders contracted in the second quarter, while the services sector slowed sharply in August.

HSBC may quit its London headquarters if the UK government decides to break up big banks, a senior executive says.

BP says the cost of its Gulf of Mexico oil spill has risen to $8bn - a rise of more than $2bn in the last month alone.

Alcohol consumption has fallen faster than ever, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association suggest.

The European Union agrees to reform financial supervision, with new agencies to oversee banks, insurers and financial markets.

Chinese investors approach Canadian pension fund over a possible rival bid for the fertiliser giant Potash Corporation.

Rival Canadian gold mining companies, Goldcorp and El Dorado, lock horns in a $3bn fight to buy up Andean Resources.

Burger King is being sold to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (£2.1bn), it has been announced.

The government of Mozambique says price rises which have led to deadly riots are "irreversible", as Maputo residents are urged to continue their protests.

An explosion rips through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill.

Russia will consider lifting its grain export ban only after the next year's harvest has been reaped, Vladimir Putin says.

The German central bank calls on the country's president to dismiss one of its board members over comments he made about immigration and Jews.

Dell withdraws its bid for 3Par after rival Hewlett-Packard raises its offer for the data storage company to $2.1bn.

Thousands of Tube workers will strike next week as talks between London Underground bosses and two unions break down.

The Royal Mail launches the world's first "intelligent" stamp, the first to work with image recognition technology.

Smokers and people with weight problems are buying a tailored pension income in greater numbers, according to research.

Four of the "big six" UK energy suppliers are to be investigated amid concerns of mis-selling to customers, the regulator says.

House prices fell for the second month in a row in August, according to the Nationwide building society.

All banks and building societies have put in place plans to begin dispensing £5 notes from the cash machines, a report reveals.

The European Central Bank raises its forecast for eurozone growth for this year and next year, and keeps interest rates on hold.

The head of Afghanistan's Central Bank tells the BBC he will not allow the country's biggest commercial bank to collapse.

The UK should have addressed its public deficit back in 2005, former Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the BBC.

Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to cut 3,500 jobs from its technical and back office division.

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom reports a threefold surge in profits for the first three months of the year, despite a sharp fall in gas prices.

Although firms are replacing employees who have left, they are not creating new jobs, the UK's largest recruitment company warns.

The Commonwealth Games were meant to showcase Delhi, but the Indian capital is struggling to be ready on time amid accusations of poor planning, reports the BBC's Geeta Pandey.

The British company behind the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology used in tennis and cricket is to be put up for sale.

Spending by English Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window has tumbled 22% from last year, a report says.

Meadowhall in Sheffield was one of the first giant shopping centres in the UK. What sort of effect has it had on the local area?

Toshiba?s UK business manager says its Foilo 100 tablet PC complements trends in media usage.

A British discount store is buying in Polo mints from Indonesia even though the same mints are being manufactured just a mile up the road in York.

Ron Manuel agreed to switch energy supplier when he was contacted by a rival company. However, his bills ended up being higher.

Royal Bank of Scotland has said it is planning to cut 3,500 jobs as part of its plans to halve its administration centres across the UK. Siobhan Endean of Unite called the job losses ''horrific'' and said union members ''are paying the price for decisions by senior bankers''.

Online clothes shopping is expected to grow to $144 billion by 2014 in western Europe according to market research company

House prices fell for the second month in a row in August, according to the Nationwide building society.

Indian cities are getting bigger and there is a growing need for more housing, business space and public facilities.

The back-breaking, ear-splitting work on Peru's guano islands

How far can BMW stretch the brand before it snaps?

Fear sparks stockpiling of food in Russia as prices soar

PayPal's co-founder worked so hard he would sleep in the office

August was tough, but there were glimmers of hope

21st Century technology helps fight female foeticide

Airline compensation claims scuppered