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UK manufacturing PMI advanced in July The manufacturing PMI in the UK climbed to 51.90 in July, higher than market expectations of an advance to 51.60. The manufacturing PMI had recorded a level of 51.40 in the previous month

At 0330GMT today, Brent crude oil one month futures contract is trading 0.57% or $0.28 higher at $49.80 per barrel, ahead of the American Petroleum Institute weekly oil inventory data, scheduled to be released later today. Yesterday, the contract tumbled 5.15% or $2.69, to settle at its lowest level since January at $49.52 per barrel, after the Iranian Oil Minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, stated that the nation could boost its oil production by 500,000 barrels a day within a week after sanctions are lifted and by 1 million barrels a day within a month. Also, slowdown in Chinese economy has further reduced demand for the crude oil.

Landlords seek migrants crackdown details Jail threat seen as response to scenes of chaos in Calais

Commodities take centre stage in Asia Equities pressured with oil in the spotlight amid China worries

Ready player $1m How a Pakistani teen made a fortune as a professional gamer in the world of e-sports, a $612m global market with an audience of 134m. (Bloomberg)

(ShareCast News) - UBS upgraded Royal Dutch Shell to 'buy' from 'neutral' and lifted the price target to 2,150p from 2,130p. Following a decline in the share price since the announcement of its proposed BG transaction both on an absolute and relative basis, the bank remains positive on the deal's merits. It noted that Shell has better clarified the benefits of the deal and initiated a more significant response to the lower oil price environment than at the start of the year. "This, alongside the positive Q2 results, drives our growing conviction concerning the deal's prospects and we upgrade." UBS reiterated its view that strategically, BG's Brazilian position is unique among the international oil companies and provides Shell a low cost, high returning operation at scale and one that is complementary to its own global deepwater business. It said the combination of leading liquefied natural gas operations could potentially generate significant follow-on opportunities and synergies.

London land rush Foreign investors have embarked on a flurry of land-buying in central London, pushing dealmaking volumes to their highest level since the global financial crisis. Buyers spent GBP1.8bn on land for property development in central London in the second quarter of 2015 - up 118 per cent year on year.

The number of completed house sales made by first-time buyers in June fell by 27% year-on-year, the latest First Time Buyer Opinion Barometer from Your Move and Reeds Rains has revealed, "as the political aftershocks of the general election continue to unsettle the housing market". The figures show a total of 21,100 transactions during June, down 7% from May (22,700) and a drop of 27.2% year-on-year, while the average purchase price (£154,041) fell by 0.6% on a monthly basis. However, this suggests that affordability has marginally improved, as does the finding that the average mortgage size (£128,115) is 1.1% lower than in May, arguably helped by the average deposit rising to £25,926, up 2.1% over the same period. "First-time buyer numbers have had a disappointing month, with little sign of the anticipated post-election bounce," said Adrian Gill of Your Move and Reeds Rains. "However, deposits continue to rise - a positive reflection on the growth of wages and home values. More positively still, the surge in high LTV house purchase approvals [additional figures from e.surv revealed that high LTV approvals rose by 18% between May and June, and by 6% compared with June 2014] should mean a rise in completions in the coming months. It's a matter of waiting for the emerging signs of growth to filter through the property chain."

U.K. business confidence jumps as profit and revenue growth rises: British business confidence has climbed for the first time in over a year, new survey figures released this morning reveal

Jump in skilled non-EU workers coming to U.K.: There has been a sharp rise in the number of non-European Union finance professionals coming to the U.K., new figures show this morning, highlighting the importance of firms’ access to skilled non-EU workers.

Allow fracking or U.K. will become living museum’, warns top business leader who wants to over-ride local planners: The Government is expected to announce the winners of a new wave of licences allowing firms to explore fracking opportunities across Britain as early as this week

Interest rates: economists and homeowners brace for Super Thursday: Britain’s mortgage borrowers will be warned this week to brace themselves for higher interest rates on what City of London traders have dubbed “Super Thursday”.

Bank lending to business forecast to rise in 2015: Business lending by Britain’s banks remains on track to rise in 2015, despite falling sharply in June, according to a new forecast from the EY Item Club.

Tories plan U.S.-style trust to entice private sector to plug £130 billion infrastructure gap in London: The Conservatives are plotting a U.S.-style trust to entice the private sector to plug a £130 billion infrastructure gap in London

Property title fraud claims on the rise: Property title fraud claims have hit a three-year high and could rise even further if the Bank of England increases interest rates at the end of the year

London waterfront to take on new look with Italian backing: A property company backed by Italy’s best-known business dynasty is to redevelop a key segment of the London waterfront.

Dubai state oil group lands Dragon with £4 billion deal: Dragon Oil is to be bought by its largest shareholder in an improved offer that values the business at £4 billion and has won the backing of rebel investors who had been holding out for a higher bid.

At 0330GMT today, Brent crude oil one month futures contract is trading 0.48% or $0.25 lower at $51.96 per barrel. On Friday, the contract declined 2.06% or $1.10, to settle at $52.21 per barrel, after Baker Hughes weekly report indicated that active oil rigs in the US increased by 5 to reach 664 last week.

Record production at BG Group: BG Group said its oil and gas production has hit record levels, which has helped to pare back the damage of the oil price falling by half since last summer

Shell set to sell off North Sea assets: The Chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell, Ben van Beurden, has signalled the planned takeover of BG will be followed by a big sell off of North Sea assets as the company prepares to live with a long period of low oil prices.