Families struggle as the cost of bringing up a child rises to £148,000, according to research for the Child Poverty Action Group.

Business lobby group the CBI increases its forecast for UK economic growth for 2013 from 1% to 1.2%, but warns it is "still early days" for the recovery.

All five major UK banks made a profit in the first half of the year for the first time since 2010, but regulatory and fraud challenges remain, says KPMG.

Property prices in China continue to rise, underlining the challenge the authorities face as they try to control the sector's growth.

Japan's trade deficit worsens in July, almost doubling from a year ago, as a weak yen boosted import costs.

The Indian rupee continues to fall, hitting a fresh all-time low against the US dollar, despite recent measures by the government to stem its decline.

HSBC has announced that five further bank branches will close, in an apparent resumption of its closure programme.

UK housebuilder Bovis Homes reports a sharp increase in profits, boosted by a rise in the average selling price for its homes.