Law and business: commercial news round-up 25.10.13

Week six of our commercial awareness news digest and it's a bumper issue. Check out this glorious collection of business stories that have grabbed our attention over the past two weeks:

• Osborne's trade trip to China prompted analysis of existing Chinese investment in Britain.
• Three American economists shared the Nobel Prize for Economics for their work on the "empirical analysis of asset prices". 
• Global relief as US Congress agrees a deal and America opens for business again.
• The Economist looked at how budget airlines operate so cheaply.
• Co-op Bank saved from brink of collapse by hedge fund investors, but concerns raised about whether it will be able to preserve its ethical drivers and reputation.
• Theme park giant Merlin Entertainments prepares for rollercoaster ride in lead up to floatation on London Stock Exchange.
• GSK loses face (and money) in China in wake of bribery scandal, but vows to remain.
• Viva la revolution! Manchester Uni economics students set up opposition group to fight traditional free-market teachings, favouring alternative theories.
• On the up: UK economic output rose by 0.8% from July to September, the best quarterly performance since 2010.

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