The Italian government is reported to have been in talks with China's largest sovereign wealth fund about buying Italian bonds.

Fourteen homes were sold per UK estate agent in the three months to August - the lowest total for over two years, a survey says.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox is expected to give strong backing to UK arms manufacturers in a speech at a major defence exhibition in London.

The Rugby World Cup will boost New Zealand's economy by as much as $1.2bn (£756m), according to a report by MasterCard.

Transport group National Express buys Petermann Partners - the fifth largest provider of student bus services in the US.

BBC Wales learns that steelmaker Tata - which employs 7,000 in Wales - is to temporarily halt production at its tinplate works in Llanelli.

Many benefits could be paid monthly under government plans to shake-up the welfare system and introduce the Universal Credit.

Philips, Europe's biggest consumer electronics producer, deepens its cost cutting programme in the face of weak global demand.