1. Chinese manufacturing activity fell into contraction, the figure slumping to three-year low in the latest sign of slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy.
2. Each of the major US stock indexes finished the month down more than 6 per cent, their biggestmonthly loss since May 2012.
-Dow: 16,528, -115, (-0.7 per cent)
- S&P 500: 1,972, -17, (-0.8 per cent)
- Nasdaq: 4,776, -52, (-1.1 per cent)
3. Oil prices fell more than 3 per cent in early Asian trade today, with investors taking profits after Brent and U.S. crude soared over 8 per cent in the previous session.
4. Employers who do not pay workers the national minimum wage and the National Living Wage will face tougher penalties under plans outlined by the government.
5. World-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz has partnered with UBS in a new 'transformational' brand campaign for the investment bank.
6. Yahoo president and chief executive Marissa Mayer has revealed she is pregnant with twins, but said she plans to take “limited time away” and will be “working throughout”.
7. Triumph Motorcycles is facing a $2.9 million fine from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for being late in submitting safety-related documents to the agency, which violates the Safety Act.
8. Snoozebox's,the portable hotel operator, revenues went up by more than 300 per cent to £2.4 million during the six months to 30 June.
9. Starting today Google Chrome browser will begin blocking Adobe Flash ads, favouring HTML5 ads insteads. More than 90 per cent of rich media ads (ads that are animated, or change when a user's mouse pointer passes over them) on desktop use Flash.
10.Virgin Money’s chief financial officer Lee Rochford is to stand down.
