Royal Bank of Scotland is expected to announce a new chief executive to replace outgoing boss Stephen Hester, as early as next week, The Telegraph revealed.

Two more AstraZeneca sales executives have been arrested by Chinese police in relation to nation-wide investigation into the drugmaking industry sparked by bribery allegations against GlaxoSmithKline, The Independent unveiled.

The British Bankers’ Association said net lending by its members to businesses rose by £172m in June, the first such rise since January, according to The Times.

Apple’s iPhone third-quarter sales beat expectations, despite a sharp drop in earnings, the Financial Times reported.

The UK is expected to show gross domestic product growth of 0.6% on Thursday, following a modest 0.3% at the start of 2013, The Guardian said.