Insurer RSA is likely to show record underwriting profits for the first nine months of 2016 and is planning to sell or reinsure £1bn (€1.1bn) worth of legacy UK business, chief executive Stephen Hester said.

First Derivatives anticipates that its current year performance will moderately beat market forecasts.

Shares in Shire hit a record high yesterday on expectations of a takeover as dealmaking sweeps the drugs sector, after Reuters reported the group had hired investment bank Citi as a defence adviser.

Political gridlock in Washington left European markets in the red today amid disappointment over the lack of progress in resolving America's budget crisis.

Strong summer trading and aggressive expansion helped budget fashion chain Primark ring up a 22% surge in annual sales and beat profit expectations.

Insurer Legal & General hailed recent efforts to ramp up expansion plans as it posted a 13% hike in half-year profits and said annuity sales surged 44%.

Tesco boss Philip Clarke will face pressure to deliver on his £1 billion turnaround plan today when annual results are expected to reveal a sales slowdown and the first fall in annual profits for 20 years.

Doubts over the ability of EU leaders to deliver measures to ease the region’s debt crisis triggered a 2.5% slump for London’s leading shares index today.

A rise in Spain’s borrowing costs today fuelled fears about the eurozone debt crisis and triggered a sell-off on world markets.

The prospect of a refinancing deal between lenders and ailing Thomas Cook caused a sharp jump in shares of the tour operator today.

A drop in oil prices triggered by a joint US and UK move to release strategic reserves pulled energy stocks and the wider FTSE 100 Index into the red today.

RYANAIR is to charge passengers €20 to reserve seats and skip the queue on a return flight.

Forecast-beating results from Prudential and a potential deal involving Rolls-Royce shielded the FTSE 100 Index from further falls in mining stocks today.

The London market bounced back from earlier losses today triggered by concerns surrounding the sovereign debt crisis in Ireland.

The London market struggled to find direction today as sentiment was weighed down by ongoing fears of a bail out for Ireland’s troubled economy.

The FTSE 100 Index remained near to its highest point since April today after world markets were given a boost by figures on Chinese economic growth.

The FTSE 100 Index recouped earlier heavy losses today after another grim set of jobless figures in the United States fuelled hopes that policymakers will take further action to prop up the global economic recovery.

London shares posted healthy gains today as investors showed few nerves ahead of key announcements from central banks in the UK and US later this week.

BP put around 10% of its oil and gas assets up for sale today as the firm looks to raise $30bn (€23.1bn) over the next 18 months.

Markets on both sides of the Atlantic were in negative territory today after disappointing figures from Goldman Sachs and computer hardware giant IBM.

Heavyweight miners dragged the FTSE 100 Index lower today despite another bright session for many top-flight retailers.

Global economic concerns hit stocks today and offset strong gains from blue chip retailers on London's leading share index.

A strong session for retailers after Home Retail Group raised its profits guidance failed to keep the London market in positive territory today.

British life and pensions group Standard Life revealed a fourth-quarter sales rebound today as it hailed the return of investor confidence in equities.

Nationalised Northern Rock was split into two today as the race to take over the “good” part of the bank stepped up a gear.

Barclays and Sainsbury’s grabbed the spotlight in a lacklustre session today after Qatari investors cashed in £1.3bn (€1.4bn) of share options in the bank.

Soap-maker PZ Cussons today said profits were higher after a strong trading performance from products including Imperial Leather and Carex.

British insurer Legal & General sent shares falling across the sector today after revealing a £351m (€414m) hit to investments and another dividend payout cut.

The FTSE 100 Index broke a four-day losing streak today after US bank Wells Fargo gave the sector a surprise lift with forecast-beating results.

Shares in Barclays rallied 6% today amid speculation that it is on the brink of announcing the £3bn (€3.31bn) sale of its iShares arm.

The FTSE 100 Index edged lower today as traders paused for breath after Thursday’s G20 euphoria.

Insurer Aviva lost more than £2bn of its value today as financial stocks took a hammering during another bleak session for the London market.

Packaging and outsourcing group Bunzl today warned that a "very difficult" economic climate would limit growth prospects in the UK and Ireland this year.

The FTSE 100 Index notched up its fifth straight day of gains today, despite lacklustre trading on the London market.

Marks & Spencer shares rallied today despite fears of a worst-ever Christmas for the leading high street chain.

The FTSE 100 Index struggled to make headway today as worries over the impact of an alleged 50 billion US dollar (£33 billion) Wall Street fraud weighed on the market.

The London market overcame recession fears to finish in positive territory today after a late session boost from Wall Street.

The London market overcame recession fears to finish in positive territory today after a late session boost from Wall Street.

Debenhams slashed its shareholder payout today as it focused efforts on coping with the consumer downturn and cutting a £1bn (€1.2bn) debt mountain.

Domino’s Pizza today reported a fresh rise in sales as consumers opted to dine at home during the current economic turmoil.

Johnston Press, the publisher of The Leinster Leader, Limerick Leader and Kilkenny People as well as British regional newspapers the Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman, has appointed John Fry of Archant Holdings as chief executive.

The owner of British electrical retailer Comet said the high street chain would slump to a first half loss this year after sales of white goods dived.

A second day of gains for commodity stocks protected the London market during another difficult session for financial firms today.

Consumer goods giant Unilever came under pressure on the London market today as interim figures from the group revealed a fall in sales volumes.

The embattled banking sector fought back from hefty falls on the London market today as the US Federal Reserve sought to offer reassurance over America’s troubled financial sector.

Britain’s biggest nightclub operator said today that cash-strapped clubbers were going out less as they face up to “one of the most difficult years in recent times”.

Royal Bank of Scotland today confirmed it was in talks to sell ABN Amro’s Australian and New Zealand operations.

Talk of a possible bid for Marks & Spencer sent shares in the struggling retailer soaring today after its recent steep falls.

One of the UK’s biggest housebuilders is expected to announce hundreds of job cuts today and provide a further insight into the woes in the industry.

The FTSE 100 Index rose almost 2% today as investors returned to the market after the sell-off of the previous week.