I HAD a call from a reader during the week complaining of Japanese Knotweed.

The chief executive of bailed-out lender Ulster Bank’s owners, Royal Bank of Scotland, already under political pressure to give back a £1 million (€1.2m) bonus for 2011, could get eight times as much in future under his current contract.

As Ulster Bank sheds 900 staff, question marks hang over the commitment of RBS and its boss Stephen Hester to Ireland, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

A key player in Royal Bank of Scotland’s restructuring effort has been snapped up by rival banking group Lloyds, it was confirmed today.

Rupert Murdoch was today facing a deepening crisis at News International amid claims that journalists from one of his newspapers accessed the medical records of Gordon Brown’s son.

Gordon Brown has been “shocked” by the way that his family’s personal details have been obtained through alleged “criminality” and “unethical means”, his office said tonight.

Rupert Murdoch’s bid to take control of BSkyB was hanging in the balance tonight as it was claimed his journalists targeted Gordon Brown and the Prince of Wales with illegal techniques.

Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to take over BSkyB was referred to the UK's Competition Commission today as more allegations emerged of illegal practices by his journalists.

Spanish bank Santander today looked set to be the only firm bidder in the auction of 318 branches being sold by Royal Bank of Scotland.

The European Commission today approved the British government’s rescue package to bail-out mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley.

Santander is reportedly considering a take-over of Bank of Ireland.

Pressure is growing on the Northern Rock board today after one of the two bidders for the bank threatened to pull out unless a takeover decision is made before Christmas.

Standard Life shares staged a relief rally today on news of its withdrawal from the bidding battle for closed life insurance firm Resolution.

Northern Rock suitor JC Flowers today unveiled a heavyweight management line-up for the stricken mortgage lender as talks over a possible offer continue.

Two of the UK's biggest life insurers - Friends Provident and Resolution - today confirmed they were in talks over a possible £8.3bn (€12.35m) merger.

Resolution, the UK’s biggest manager of closed life insurance funds, today unveiled better-than-expected full-year results as it provided some welcome news for investors left disappointed when recent takeover talks were called off.

The UK’s biggest manager of closed life insurance funds today ended speculation that it could be taken over in a £4 billion-plus deal.

Abbey National set its sights on more of its rivals’ business today after achieving the latest stage in its three-year turnaround plan.

Scottish Power agreed to be taken over by Spain’s Iberdrola today in a €17.1bn move to create Europe’s third largest utility company.

The housing market is likely to bust within the next few years, a prominent economist and former advisor to Gordon Brown will warn today.

Scottish Power shares made fresh gains today amid speculation that a Spanish company could be about to offer £12bn (€17.8bn) for the energy supplier.

Abbey National today said its chief executive Francisco Gomez-Roldan has died three weeks before he was due to step down.

Shares in UK banking group Alliance & Leicester fell sharply today after a potential suitor made a move on a different takeover target.

Alliance & Leicester today revealed a sharp slowdown in unsecured lending after tightening its criteria for loans in a slower UK market.

Shares on both sides of the Atlantic were in positive territory today as bargain hunters moved in after yesterday’s falls.

A manager of closed life assurance funds moved in on a place in the FTSE 100 Index after striking a £3.6bn (€5.2bn) deal with Abbey National today.

Resolution Life is planning the biggest rights issue in the City for four years to finance the £3.5bn (€5.1bn) purchase of Abbey National’s life insurance business, it was reported today.

Investors returned to the London market today in anticipation of the next round of cross-border takeover activity.

Big Brother celebrity Jade Goody told today of her horror after becoming the victim of a chequebook fraud costing her up to £500,000 (€721,617).

Big Brother celebrity Jade Goody told tonight of her horror after becoming the victim of a chequebook fraud costing her up to £500,000.

BANK shares traded higher in Dublin yesterday after speculation in the Financial Times that AIB could be in the sights of Spain’s largest bank, Santander.

The Spanish owner of Abbey National was today said to have ruled out a bid for Alliance & Leicester as it looked to make a further raid on the UK banking sector.

Abbey National warned today that up to 2,000 jobs will be axed this year as the bank looks to continue its turnaround under Spanish ownership.

The turnaround of Abbey National looked on track today as it bounced back into the black in its first full year of Spanish ownership.

James Crosby has been on a winning streak since leading Halifax into its transformational tie-up with Bank of Scotland in 2001.

A technology company best known as the powerhouse of Welsh football was taken over by BT today.

Job losses at Abbey National are set to spiral after the UK bank’s Spanish owners admitted today that the elimination of 4,000 posts this year was not enough.

IN a move to beef up its customer focus Bank of Ireland has appointed Tony Wyatt director of customer operations.

The new owners of Abbey National said today the turnaround of the bank was under way after revenues stabilised and profits held firm in 2005 so far.

Abbey National was today fined a record £800,000 (€1.1m) for mishandling endowment mortgage complaints by Britain's City watchdog.

Marks & Spencer chairman Paul Myners is poised to triumph over directors trying to oust him from the troubled retailer, it was reported today.

ABOUT 1,700 jobs are to be axed in Britain after the Australian owner of two historic regional banks announced plans for a radical overhaul yesterday.

The corruption trial of Spain’s most powerful banker, who bought Britain’s Abbey National, was suspended just hours after it started today when the defence presented new evidence.

Abbey National is altering the terms of its insurance policies after a Belfast man took action against it under disability discrimination legislation, it was announced today.

Halifax-to-Bank of Scotland group HBOS is set for a sharp rise in annual profits after forecasting results well ahead of market hopes today.

The mortgage lender Abbey National, said it will combine divisions and cut directors to reduce costs and increase sales.

The FTSE 100 Index went into reverse today after heavy falls for tobacco and pub stocks offset a strong performance by market heavyweight Vodafone.

The FTSE 100 Index built on its recent winning streak today to end the week at another 29-month high.

Falling oil prices and some respite for the weakening US dollar helped prop up the London market today.

The London market was in lacklustre form today as the downbeat mood across the Atlantic last night rubbed off on traders.