The micro-blogging site Twitter says active users have passed the 100 million mark, but it has no plans for a stock market listing.

The Ministry of Justice announces it is to ban referral fees in personal injury claims in an attempt to curb the UK's "compensation culture".

China's rate of inflation eased in August, after hitting a three-year high in July, official figures show.

Chinese online retailer Jingdong Mall considers a share sale in the US next year that could be among the biggest internet IPOs.

Japan's economy contracted more severely in the second quarter than was initially estimated, latest government data shows.

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon warns that trading conditions are still difficult, while reporting record sales, but slightly lower profits for 2011.

Trading at HMV continues to fall, but trials of new store format show positive results, the retailer says.

Exploration firm Tullow makes an "important oil discovery" off the coast of French Guiana, potentially opening a major new offshore crude region.