Private rents in England and Wales rose to an average £705 per month in July, according to a survey by LSL Property Services.

The Private Finance Initiative used by successive governments to pay for new schools and hospitals is poor value for money, a group of MPs say.

Asian stocks fall on Friday after a sudden sell-off in global markets on worries that the US economy could slide into recession.

Bank of America is to cut some 3,500 staff this quarter as part of a restructuring plan, reports in the US say.

Sky's control over pay-TV movie rights in the UK is restricting competition, the Competition Commission provisionally rules.

Stocks in Europe start the day with more losses, as worries continue over the strength of the global economy.

Oil services firm Aker Solutions announces it is to create 500 new UK jobs - including 300 in Aberdeen - over the next year.

Shares in UK software firm Autonomy soar 75% after it agrees to be bought by US giant Hewlett Packard for £7.1bn ($11.7bn).