Asian markets post modest gains as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he will step down once reforms are passed.

Anglo-French electrical goods retailer Kesa announces plans to sell off its troubled UK-based Comet stores for £2 to a private equity firm.

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB), the world's largest brewer, reports a rise in quarterly profits after selling the same volume of beer for higher prices.

Compare the fortunes of eurozone economies

Italy's cost of borrowing touches a new record, a day after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would resign once budget reforms are passed.

Workers are choosing to stay in their current job rather than move at a time when the labour market is weak, official figures show.

The UK recorded its biggest trade deficit to date in September, while an August jump in exports has been revised away, new data shows.

Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL announce an alliance in online advertising to rival Facebook and Google.