Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest technology company by sales, reports a large loss in the third quarter.

The US Federal Trade Commission gives Facebook's takeover bid for photo-sharing network Instagram the go-ahead.

Institutional investors could fund the large-scale building of private housing for rent, a report for the government by Sir Adrian Montague says.

Qantas has posts its first annual loss since 1995, amid high fuels costs and growing losses at its international operations.

German and French leaders meet in Berlin to consider Greece's plea to be given more time to make the tough cuts needed for its debt bailout.

China's manufacturing activity fell to a nine-month low in August, according to a preliminary HSBC survey.

Australia's resources minister, Martin Ferguson, says the country's resources boom, one of the biggest drivers of its economic growth, is "over".

Diageo, the maker of Guinness and Smirnoff, reports a big jump in annual profits thanks to strong sales and acquisitions in emerging markets.