The United Nations' food agency calls a special meeting of policy makers to discuss the recent rapid rises in food prices.

HSBC may quit its London headquarters if the UK government decides to break up big banks, a senior executive says.

BP says the cost of its Gulf of Mexico oil spill has risen to $8bn - a rise of more than $2bn in the last month alone.

The cost of mortgages is continuing to fall and they are becoming more accessible to some borrowers, figures show.

The US economy shed another 54,000 jobs in August, the third month in a row that jobs have been lost, official figures show.

New data shows new construction orders contracted in the second quarter, while the services sector slowed sharply in August.

Alcohol consumption has fallen faster than ever, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association suggest.

The European Union agrees to reform financial supervision, with new agencies to oversee banks, insurers and financial markets.

Chinese investors approach Canadian pension fund over a possible rival bid for the fertiliser giant Potash Corporation.

Rival Canadian gold mining companies, Goldcorp and El Dorado, lock horns in a $3bn fight to buy up Andean Resources.

Burger King is being sold to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (£2.1bn), it has been announced.

An explosion rips through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill.

Russia will consider lifting its grain export ban only after the next year's harvest has been reaped, Vladimir Putin says.

The German central bank calls on the country's president to dismiss one of its board members over comments he made about immigration and Jews.

Dell withdraws its bid for 3Par after rival Hewlett-Packard raises its offer for the data storage company to $2.1bn.

Four of the "big six" UK energy suppliers are to be investigated amid concerns of mis-selling to customers, the regulator says.

House prices fell for the second month in a row in August, according to the Nationwide building society.

All banks and building societies have put in place plans to begin dispensing £5 notes from the cash machines, a report reveals.

The European Central Bank raises its forecast for eurozone growth for this year and next year, and keeps interest rates on hold.

The government of Mozambique says price rises which have led to deadly riots are "irreversible", as Maputo residents are urged to continue their protests.

The head of Afghanistan's Central Bank tells the BBC he will not allow the country's biggest commercial bank to collapse.

Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to cut 3,500 jobs from its technical and back office division.

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom reports a threefold surge in profits for the first three months of the year, despite a sharp fall in gas prices.

Although firms are replacing employees who have left, they are not creating new jobs, the UK's largest recruitment company warns.

The Commonwealth Games were meant to showcase Delhi, but the Indian capital is struggling to be ready on time amid accusations of poor planning, reports the BBC's Geeta Pandey.

The British company behind the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology used in tennis and cricket is to be put up for sale.

Spending by English Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window has tumbled 22% from last year, a report says.

Meadowhall in Sheffield was one of the first giant shopping centres in the UK. What sort of effect has it had on the local area?

Rory Cellan-Jones tries out 3D video equipment and looks at the latest ultra thin and bright OLED TVs.

Travel expert Simon Calder has more advice for people doing battle with airlines and agents.

Global food prices have reached a 20 year high and there are concerns they could climb even further after Russia decided to extend its ban on wheat exports.

A British discount store is buying in Polo mints from Indonesia even though the same mints are being manufactured just a mile up the road in York.

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