Top economists expect the Bank of England to take further action to ensure interest rates remain low say it and could relaunch quantitative easing within months if markets do not move into line, The Telegraph reported.

Two former JP Morgan bankers face up to 25 years in prison after US prosecutors filed criminal charges over their role in the $6.2bn “London Whale” trading scandal, The Times revealed.

China has widened its investigation into drug pricing and corruption in the healthcare sector, the Financial Times said.

AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong has apologised to his entire staff for publicly sacking an employee in front of 1,000 colleagues during a company conference call, according to The Guardian.

Kazakhstan miner Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. delivered poor half-way figures on Thursday ahead of being taken private, The Independent noted.

The Serious Fraud Office has brought charges for the first time under the toughened anti-bribery laws, against three businessmen in connection with an alleged £23m biofuel scam, The Times unveiled.

Energy giant npower could axe hundreds of jobs after it announced a plunge in profits and a cost-cutting drive, The Mirror said.