Economics

House prices in the UK rose by 1.8% in October compared with the previous month - but this followed a big drop a month earlier, the Halifax said.

Business leaders have issued a fresh warning today about Britain's competitiveness, releasing a survey of leading executives which suggests the country is slipping behind its international rivals.

The leaders of 35 of the UK's biggest companies have expressed their support for the government's plans for spending cuts running into billions of pounds.

The government should commission a new assessment of the losses suffered by people who saved with Equitable Life, a committee of MPs has said.

Harsh banking regulation will negatively impact the economic recovery and cost upwards of 10 million jobs globally, the world's leading bankers have warned.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) wants a further £50bn in quantitative easing, on top of the £200bn already injected into the economy to boost the money supply.

FSA director of enforcement Margaret Cole has been named as one of Europe's most influential women for the second year running.

The Competition Commission (CC) and the Office of Fair Trading could merge into a single body.

Financial regulators have reached a deal to force global banks to double the spare cash they hold in the biggest shake-up since the economic crisis nearly brought down the system.

The global economic recovery is slowing faster than forecast, but a return to recession is unlikely, according to the OECD.