Midday: Interest rates on hold but speculation is growing that a weaker housing market and credit turmoil will force a cut. By Angela Balakrishnan.

  12.15pm update: Royal Mail and the union fail to reach an agreement, heralding days and possibly weeks of disruption for businesses and consumers. By Graeme Wearden.

  Bank expected to admit defeat today in battle for ABN Amro. By Phillip Inman.

  The average cost of a home in the UK fell by 0.6% in September, providing further evidence that the housing market is running out of steam, figures showed today.

  Lunchtime market report: Action among mid-caps provided the talking point this morning. By Nick Fletcher.

  Supermarket is to quit its lavish head office in London's Holborn to move to a cheaper and greener HQ on the vast King's Cross development site. By Julia Finch.

  Survey shows inflationary pressures still strong as Bank of England's MPC meets to decide interest rates.

  Nils Pratley: It would be a regulatory settlement of 'unprecedented severity', said an outraged Stephen Nelson, chief executive of BAA.

  Progress in bid talks helps shares close 12% higher. By Simon Bowers.

  Tony Ryan, the founder of Europe's largest low-cost airline, died yesterday at his home in Co Kildare.

  Unions accuse confectioner of acting like a 'short-term, quick-strip private equity firm'as it shifts some production to Poland. By Graeme Wearden.

  Customers will be able to update their Facebook and MySpace profiles using their mobile phones for free in November and December. By Richard Wray.

  French stock market regulator sends report to prosecutors on insider trading on a 'massive'scale by senior executives and shareholders at EADS. By David Gow in Brussels.

  David Gow talks to Charlie McCreevy, EU internal market commissioner, about the credit crisis and how Europe can avoid a full-blown financial catastrophe.