The former Justice Secretary Jack Straw is calling for reform of the motor insurance industry, to prevent insurers referring their clients to personal injury lawyers without permission.

Credit card use fell last year as people turned to cash and debit cards to avoid borrowing, shopkeepers say.

British businesses hope to sign deals worth more than £1bn when the Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao meets David Cameron at Downing Street later.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) warns that low interest rates are a threat to global financial stability.

More than one in four workers in the UK would move abroad for a better job, a survey suggests.

Philip Morris threatens to sue the Australian government over its plan to introduce plain, brandless packing for cigarettes.

Ocado reports a £200,000 half-year profit, and announces a deal to sell products from French supermarket giant Carrefour.

Oil prices extend their falls from the end of last week amid concerns about the Greek debt crisis and the weak US recovery.