Bombardier is targeting a major European aircraft order as the next step in the recovery of its C Series programme following a $5.6bn (€5bn) sale to Delta Air Lines that helped turn around the jetliner’s prospects.

LinkedIn’s shares plunged about 35% yesterday, wiping out nearly $9 billion (€8bn) of market value, after the social network for professionals shocked Wall Street with a revenue forecast that fell far short of expectations.

Royal Dutch Shell, which is on the brink of completing the oil industry’s largest deal in a decade, said fourth-quarter profit fell 44%, after the rout in crude prices deepened.

Middle-Eastern exploration firm, Dragon Oil has withdrawn its interest in Irish company, Petroceltic, citing “prevailing market conditions” for its decision.

Allergan chief executive David Pyott said he probably won’t follow other drugmakers in making an acquisition in Ireland as a way to lower the company’s corporate taxes.

The budget agreement reached by congressional Democrats and Republicans would provide only a modest boost to the US economy. The psychological effect is likely to be a lot greater.

Apple, the maker of the iPhone and iPad, reported third-quarter profit and sales that beat analyst estimates, spurring optimism that the company is weathering an attack from low-end smartphone competition.

The shockwaves from Greece’s failure to form a coalition government have continued to reverberate around markets, though upbeat US economic indicators gave the more positive-minded investor something to latch on to.

Dublin-headquartered Covidien Plc is to buy Oridion Systems Ltd, an Israeli maker of devices for patient breathing safety, for $346m (€260m).

COVIDIEN Plc, a maker of surgical products and drugs, plans to spin-off its pharmaceuticals division into a separate company that could be based in Ireland.

The US Federal Reserve today painted a bleaker outlook for the nation's economy, which it thinks will grow much more slowly and face higher unemployment than it had estimated in June.

World markets remained unsettled today over whether Greece’s referendum decision was a huge miscalculation, while worries over Italy disturbed investors too.

Markets plunged today over fears that Europe’s plan to save the euro was already unravelling after the decision by Greece’s leader to call a referendum on the country’s latest rescue package.

A pledge to stabilise markets from the world’s leading economies failed to reassure investors today and stocks were falling sharply again.

Mounting evidence that the world economy is slowing sharply sent global stock markets spiralling down today.

MEDTRONIC Inc (MDT), the world’s biggest maker of heart-rhythm devices, said first-quarter profit fell 1.1% as demand for its defibrillators and spinal products declined and costs to produce them rose.

Stocks have rebounded as investors breathed a sigh of relief at the news that the US added more jobs than expected during July, putting a halt to one of the worst sell-offs since the height of the 2008 financial crisis.

THE Greek parliament approved an austerity deal yesterday but the country was wracked with violent protests. It was reported that 38 police and 51 protesters had been injured.

CONFIDENCE among US consumers increased more than forecast in April, signalling that the improving labour market is helping Americans weather rising fuel costs.

MATTEL Inc, after waging a seven-year legal war against a tiny California company, swallowed a surprise defeat after a US jury decided that MGA Entertainment Inc is the rightful owner of the once-billion dollar line of pouty-lipped Bratz dolls.

LIVERPOOL co-owner George Gillett yesterday insisted he is not preparing to sell his stake of the club.