That's all for tonight, folks. Do join us again tomorrow from 06:00.

A carpet manufacturer from Kidderminster is the best performing stock in the UK, according to Bloomberg, external.

But there's a sting in the tail. The magic carpet ride may be about to get bumpier, the article says.

Chatbots are being taught to assist people in dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The bots do not treat or diagnose - but human therapists have some reservations about the tech.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite a record-breaking bull run, the US stock market is left in the dust... by vintage cars.

Bloomberg reports, external that the value of collectable Ferraris nearly tripled during the past decade.

That's compared to a 150% increase in shares on Wall St.

Live Page reader Patricia Ellis, managing director of Wizard Video Productions, writes:

"Our company films shows for dance schools and amateur dramatic groups.

"They often use cheques to collect the payments for DVDs or downloads.

"The payments are then sent directly onto us. If individual parents paid by phoning or paying online, we would need extra personnel to handle the extra admin."

But reader John Kersley writes: "In the UK I don't remember the last time I wrote a cheque and I don't like receiving them because of the need to visit a bank.

"However, I spend a lot of time in the South of France where the use of cheques is far more common.

"It is painful waiting at the supermarket checkout waiting while customer after customer writes out their cheque.

"Fortunately here in the UK the cheque is dying and good riddance."

Image source, Getty Images

A group representing Scotch whisky has joined the prime minister on her trade-boosting visit to Africa.

The trip began this morning and is aimed at building new investment, trade and export ties with emerging markets.

Theresa May said: "Scotch whisky is known the world over for its quality and heritage, and I want to see Scottish industry make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead in the vibrant, emerging markets across Africa."

Earlier this year, Scotch Whisky was registered as a trademark in South Africa, the seventh largest market by volume - with nearly 100 bottles shipped there every minute.

Image source, Getty Images

An astonishing statistic opens AP's write-up of an Urban Institute survey on hardship in America.

"Despite a strong economy, about 40% of American families struggled to meet at least one of their basic needs last year, including paying for food, health care, housing or utilities."

That's during a period of record low unemployment, too.

Well worth a read., external

Business Live page readers have been debating the merits and otherwise of cheques.

John Baker writes about a bit of a shady business practice by one of his former customers:

"When I was a business banking manager had a customer who collected invoices to settle one day a month.

"Reviewed them, happy, wrote a cheque, placed in envelope with first class stamp, placed in safe and transferred funds to a savings account.

"If a customer contacted to chase late payment, he apologised, promised cheque in post first class. Sent cheque, money from savings to current account.

"The amount of money he had in the savings account grew month on month.

"Not his problem if others have a poor book-keeping system!"

Image source, g

One of the reasons some politicians give for not seeking to cut greenhouse gas emissions is that it would slow a country's economy.

Donald Trump, for example, announced he was pulling the US out of the Paris climate accord to benefit the US economy.

However, cutting emissions need not necessarily stifle economic development, the World Economic Forum says, external.

It gives the example of the Swedish city of Vaxjo, which more than halved carbon dioxide emissions between 1993 and 2016, while local gross domestic product rose 32% between 1993 and 2014.

Image source, Getty Images

While Brazil has slowed down the destruction of its rainforests, the trade-off has been putting another vital ecological area at risk, Reuters reports, external.

The savannah region known as the Cerrado is being rapidly lost to agribusiness, Reuters reports.

Farmers see the development of the area as critical to food security.

Image source, Getty Images

Yum China, the operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in China, has rejected a buyout offer of $46 per share from Chinese investment firm Hillhouse Capital, CNBC reports, external, citing Dow Jones.

The company's shares rose 7% to $38.32 in afternoon trading.

Image source, Reuters

Liam Fox tells the BBC hitches in the Brexit negotiations will say more about Europe than the UK.

Business Live page reader Phil McAllister makes an interesting point about payments for Blue Badge disability parking permits as readers share their views on cheques.

Mr McAllister says: "My local council - Somerset - will not accept cash for Blue Badge payments."

He says payments must be made either by card, postal order, or cheque.

However, the council doesn't specify when card payments will be collected, and a charge is made for postal orders.

"Those on low incomes cannot afford to guess when a payment is going out of their account. They cannot afford to pay for postal orders and of course cheques are free.

"Cheques are still being used, I assure you! Keep smiling."

Meanwhile, Live Page reader Robin Turner says: "In common with many parents, I pay for school trips and outings by cheque. It's how many schools prefer it as it is safer."

Business Live page readers are giving their views of cheques and whether they are becoming obsolete.

Not everyone is in favour of cheques. Colin Brown says: "It's odd that some people prefer the 'security' of cheques to internet banking.

"Yet a cheque contains full details of your name and bank account, plus a perfect copy of your signature. And sometimes people even write their address on the back as well."

Lawrie Bryans writes: "If cheques disappear, there are still postal orders. Better and safer for the receiver as they can't bounce!"

Image source, Reuters

Google has responded to an unsubstantiated claim from US President Donald Trump that Google has rigged search results to prioritise negative news stories about him and that Google and others are "suppressing voices of conservatives".

Google says: "Search is not used to set a political agenda and we don't bias our results toward any political ideology."

"Every year, we issue hundreds of improvements to our algorithms to ensure they surface high-quality content in response to users' queries.

"We continually work to improve Google Search and we never rank search results to manipulate political sentiment."

Image source, Getty Images

The Canadian dollar has strengthened to a nearly three-month high against its US counterpart on the back of Canada potentially reaching a deal with the US to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement.

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he believed the US can reach a trade deal with Canada this week after coming to an agreement with Mexico.

Image source, Getty Images

Business Live page readers have been writing in with their views on cheques.

Richard Lovell writes: "I still use cheques for gifts to young relatives: they enjoy the novelty and 'specialness' of the method.

"However, the biggest problem has been getting my bank, Barclays, to issue a new chequebook. Traditional methods - sending off the request form from the back of the chequebook - no longer work."

Helen Sydney also sends cheques as gifts: "Cheques written to open bank accounts, pay our NFU car insurance, pay our decorator, pay the heating service company, send money as a present etc., etc.,

"There will always be a place for cheques."

Image source, Getty Images

US stocks have opened higher after the US and Mexico a revamp for the Nafta trade deal on Monday.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite index opened at record levels, lifted by hopes that a trade deal will go some way to averting a global trade war.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 43.06 points, or 0.17%, at the open to 26,092.70. The S&P 500 opened higher by 4.71 points, or 0.16%, at 2,901.45. The Nasdaq Composite gained 21.11 points, or 0.26%, to 8,039.01.

Image source, Getty Images

It would be "ideal if [Mark] Carney decided to remain at the helm of the Bank of England for longer", according to Silvia Dall’Angelo, a senior economist at Hermes Investment Management.

"It would provide continuity in the approach to monetary policy, shoring up business and consumer sentiment during the Brexit process and potentially allowing for a smoother transition.

"Reports he was asked to stay on until 2020 suggest there is broad-based awareness that continuity is needed at such a crucial juncture for the country."