Taylor Wimpey has sold the UK business of Taylor Woodrow construction to French construction firm Vinci for £74m in cash.

Practical measures to help the construction industry meet the "challenges of today and the opportunities of the future" were announced by Skills Secretary John Denham today.

Some estate agents are selling fewer than one home per week in the past three months, it has been revealed.

Equipment manufacturer JCB has entered into a new joint venture partnership with BNP Paribas Lease Group to offer retail and wholesale financing in JCB’s European markets.