Oil giant Shell accepts responsibility for two oil spills in Nigeria's Ogoniland region, in what activists say could set a legal precedent for UK courts.

One in three adults in the UK now use a smartphone, according to research by the telecoms regulator Ofcom.

Italy is likely to default on its debts but Spain may just avoid it, says the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Shares of Japanese infrastructure giants Hitachi and Mitsubishi Heavy rise on speculation they plan to merge some businesses.

The Japanese government intervenes in the currency market to weaken the yen and protect economic growth.

A large shortfall in affordable new housing is revealed by figures obtained from local councils by rural campaign group the Countryside Alliance.

New IMF chief Christine Lagarde is set to find out whether she will be formally investigated for abuse of authority when she was French finance minister.

Adidas raises its annual profit forecast after reporting strong figures for the three months to the end of June.