BBC News - Business

London's leading shares fall in early Thursday trading, dragged down by companies going ex-dividend.

The number of properties on the market is at its lowest level for many years, leading to prices rising faster than wages, the Halifax says.

For the first time, a Virgin Galactic pilot speaks to the media about the day one of its ships crashed last October.

Australia is cautioned by the OECD to keep further interest rate cuts "in reserve" and that the booming housing market is at risk of a "sharp correction".

Virgin Galactic have been building a new space plane in a hangar in the desert in the US.

Shares in Asia were mixed on Thursday despite US markets closing higher, boosted by Federal Reserve data which showed the US economy had returned to growth.

Growth in South Korea - Asia's fourth largest economy - has marginally beaten estimates to expand 2.5% during the first three months of 2015 compared with a year earlier.

The US state of Nevada has approved a new tax on live entertainment, which includes a 9% charge on tickets for events such as the Burning Man festival.

One Direction and Ed Sheeran helped British artists account for one in seven of the albums sold worldwide in 2014, says the BPI.

Low-value transactions drove a 10% rise in purchases made on a card in 2014 compared with a year earlier, new figures show.

Midwestern manufacturing powers ahead

English Premier League clubs saw record revenues and profits in 2013-14, as big TV deals and Financial Fair Play rules took effect, says Deloitte.

Are we witnessing a takeaway revolution?

Start up company Deliveroo is trying to disrupt the takeaway food business, by making it easier for more restaurants to deliver.

A former trader accused of Libor rate rigging said brokers in other firms were a "tool" in his "armoury", a jury has been told.

The US Federal Reserve says the economy expanded between April and May in its latest assessment of the economy, rebounding from a contraction in the first quarter.

One of the biggest names in savoury pastries, Pork Farms Group, has been given the go ahead to take over the savoury pastries business of Ireland's Kerry Foods.

Lufthansa Group is making online-booking services, including Opodo and Expedia, add a surcharge, to encourage people to use its own site.

What must Fifa do to get back on its feet?

Apple recalls its Beats Pill XL speaker systems warning that they could overheat and pose a fire risk.

There will be no US-style shale gas revolution in Europe, the president of the International Gas Union (IGU) has told the BBC.

Suppliers who sell their energy through various brands must tell domestic customers of their cheapest tariff across the lot from October.

The European Central Bank leaves its key interest rate unchanged at 0.05% as latest economic reports suggest improvement in the eurozone.

The eurozone's unemployment rate fell in April, official figures show, while a separate survey indicates job creation in the bloc is running at a four-year high.

The global economy has been given "B-minus " grade equating to "muddling through" by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.