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Live Reporting

Mary-Ann Russon

All times stated are UK

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  1. Goodnight

    Test card

    That's it for tonight on Business Live.

    We'll be back bright and early at 06:00 on Tuesday morning.

    Do join us for all the latest breaking news and analysis from the business world.

  2. US stocks retreat

    The Dow Jones ended flat at 23,349.7, a 0.09% - or 21-point - rise. The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, or 10 points, to 2,564.98, and tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 3.79%, or 0.6 points, to 6,586.8.

  3. Look out, Paypal

    Pay With Google

    Google is challenging Paypal with a new service called Pay With Google, that aims to make it easier for online shoppers to checkout on websites.

    You might be used to using PayPal to pay for things online, so that you don't need to give merchants your financial details.

    Google is doing the same thing - if you are using an Android phone or the Chrome web browser, Google will automatically send your billing information to the merchant.

    The internet giant has already got 15 partners on launch, and will soon be adding well known brands like Just Eat, Hungryhouse, StubHub, Airbnb and Deliveroo to its service.

  4. Is it just incompetence?

    RBS Bank

    The author of a report in 2013 about RBS' global restructuring group says that the Financial Conduct Authority needs to do more.

    "Banks do not treat their customers inappropriately, bankers do," said Lawrence Tomlinson.

    "The authorities should look at whether these bankers' behaviour is incompetent or criminal - either way, whoever allowed the scandal at GRG to occur should not be allowed to work in the sector or enable similar ethos and culture to enter other banking institutions."

  5. Oil prices steady

    An oil rig

    Oil prices remained steady on Monday, supported by supply disruptions in Iraq denting exports, as well as US drilling rates dropping to their lowest since June.

    Brent crude settled at $57.37 (£43.45) a barrel, down 38 cents, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude ended up 6 cents at $51.90 a barrel.

  6. Human rights inquiry

    Harvey Weinstein

    Prosecutors in New York are investigating the Weinstein Company, following allegations of sexual assault made against film producer Harvey Weinstein.

    A subponea has been issued, seeking all documents, records and correspondence related to complaints of sexual harassment or discrimination from the studio, which is headquartered in New York City.

    It also demands to know how complaints were handled and whether formal investigations were launched, and if not, why not.

    "No New Yorker should be forced to walk into a workplace ruled by sexual intimidation, harassment, or fear," said New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman.

    "If sexual harassment or discrimination is pervasive at a company, we want to know."

  7. Netflix selling bonds

    Netflix

    Netflix is hoping to raise $1.6bn (£1.21bn) to fund investments into new original TV shows and movies by selling bonds.

    The online entertainment streaming service will be needed to help fund a growing $7-8bn budget for new content in 2018.

    Netflix saw stronger-than-expected subscriber growth in the third quarter.

    The service operates on a model that requires Netflix to invest in content upfront in order to keep subscribers loyal, meaning that Netflix continues to have growing negative free cash outflows, according to the FT.

  8. T-Mobile goes for video

    T-Mobile CEO John Legere announces Q3 results in a video message

    In a bid to avoid speculation about a possible merger with rival Sprint, T-Mobile US decided not to have its usual quarterly earnings call with investors, and instead put out a video message on YouTube.

    "With all the rumours and speculation out there, we decided we wanted to make sure you all saw and focused on our Q3 results, and not just on the rumours and speculation that seem to fill the news every day," said chief executive John Legere.

    The mobile operator reported record service revenues of $7.6bn (£5.76bn) and said that it was T-Mobile's "best Q3 ever".

    T-Mobile also reported $10bn in revenues, up 8%, record net cash provided by operating activities of $2.4bn, up 36%, and record free cash flow of $921m, up 59%.

  9. Toymakers under pressure

    Toys in Toys R Us

    Hasbro shares have tumbled 9.4% after the toymaker projected lower sales growth than expected for the fourth quarter of 2017 - a key holiday shopping period.

    Barbie doll maker Mattel's shares fell, down 2.7% to $15.53.

    Both Hasbro and Mattel have been under pressure since Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy protection in the US and Canada in September.

  10. Philips brushes up on China

    philips sonicare

    Strong demand for its electric toothbrushes in China helped Philips to boost sales by 4% to €4.1bn in the third quarter.

    The Dutch firm, which spun off its lighting division last year to focus on medical devices and healthcare products, recorded double-digit growth in China.

    That helped make up for flat sales in North America and a 6% slide in western Europe.

    Chief executive Frans van Houten says: "We are very optimistic about our opportunities in China. Our toothbrushes continue to sell very well, while the growth of private hospitals diminishes the risk of government preferring domestic suppliers."

  11. Etsy shares down

    Handmade gift shop

    One of the losers on the Nasdaq is Etsy, a popular online marketplace for handmade artisan goods.

    Its shares have fallen nearly 4% to $15.74 each following the news that Amazon is launching the Handmade Gift Shop.

    The Handmade Gift Shop aims to promote thousands of products by independent sellers and small businesses for the holiday season.

  12. Wall Street wilts in afternoon trade

    When Wall Street opened a few hours ago, the main indexes were all at fresh highs. But it's well into the afternoon now and some of the shine has come off the markets' performance. The Dow Jones is the only one still in positive territory, up just 0.04% on the day at 23,338.76. But the broader S&P 500 is down 0.06% at 2,573.54, while the tech-focused Nasdaq is 0.15% lower at 6,619.12.

  13. Back to the (clean) future?

    London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants the government to implement further measures to help those affected by the city's new traffic charge, known as the T-Charge and aimed at diesel and petrol vehicles registered before 2006.

    He wants a new clean air act, similar to those implemented in 1956 and 1993, to improve air quality in London

    From today, there is now a £10 daily fee for those who drive more polluting vehicles in the congestion charging zone, on top of the existing £11.50 congestion charge.

    But the Clean Air London group says Mr Khan should ban all diesel vehicles.

    Video content

    Video caption: Sadiq Khan on how to help people affected by the T-Charge
  14. SocGen pauses Brexodus

    SocGen sign

    Societe Generale will wait for more clarity on Brexit before deciding whether to move staff away from London, chief executive Frederic Oudea said.

    The French bank has previously said it was considering moving 400 corporate and investment banking jobs to Paris ahead of the UK's departure from the EU.

    The bank has 2,000 jobs in investment banking in London, Mr Oudea said earlier this year.

  15. Seeking 'justice' from RBS

    The GRG Action Group continues to call for the Financial Conduct Authority to publish its full report on RBS' treatment of small businesses.

    The group, which represents more than 500 UK businesses, believes that the procedures set out by the bank for obtaining redress are "inadequate" and that the complaints process "fails to address the issue of consequential loss" facing many businesses.

    "Far from drawing a line under this affair, today’s report is just the start of the long journey to justice for GRG’s victims," said the GRG Action Group.

    "It remains our belief that publication of this summary report is insufficient.

    "If anything, today’s findings solidify the case for having the FCA’s report published in full so that the bank’s misdemeanours can be properly scrutinised.”

  16. BreakingLandmark fraud case

    Justice

    A former HSBC banker has been found guilty of defrauding Cairn Energy in a $3.5bn currency trade in 2011.

    US prosecutors said Mark Johnson, who was HSBC's head of global cash foreign exchange trading, schemed to ramp up the price of the sterling before executing a trade for Cairn.

    His actions made millions for HSBC, at Cairn's expense.

  17. Universal credit

    An emergency debate on universal credit will take place tomorrow, the House of Commons has announced on Twitter.

    Universal credit replaces six benefits and merges them into one payment. Currently, at least a quarter of claimants have to wait for a month and a half for the first payment.

    View more on twitter
  18. Kaspersky opens up antivirus

    Eugene Kaspersky

    Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab will allow third parties to analyse its antivirus software, in a bid to squash accusations that its software has been used to spy for the Kremlin.

    "We want to show how we're completely open and transparent. We've nothing to hide," said company founder Eugene Kaspersky.

    "Cybersecurity has no borders, but attempts to introduce national boundaries in cyberspace is counterproductive and must be stopped. We need to reestablish trust in relationships between companies, governments and citizens."

    Kaspersky antivirus software has been banned by all US government agencies following accusations that nation state hackers used the software to steal information from the NSA.

  19. FCA 'making excuses'

    RBS Bank

    RGL Management, which was formed for the purpose of suing RBS over its treatment of small businesses, says that the Financial Conduct Authority is not doing enough.

    "The FCA is making excuses in its interim report as to why it cannot bring the bank to justice, which does nothing to help redress the devastation inflicted on business owners by RBS.

    "If the FCA cannot, or will not, take action against the bank then it is important for distressed businesses and individuals to seek justice in the courts.

    "RGL Management is the only group ready to do so, with expertise, funding and lawyers in place.”

  20. London ends flat

    London Stock Exchange

    The FTSE 100 has closed flat at 7,524.4 points - just 1.2 points higher, following a day of very little movement.

    The biggest faller was Mediclinic after Spire Healthcare rejected its takeover bid, while GKN topped the risers, jumping 5.1%.

    Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 fell 0.1% to 20,131.5, with Spire jumping 15.2%.