Fast food restaurant Burger King, which has 500 outlets in the UK and a large number in Ireland, is in talks with private equity firms for a potential sale, it was reported today.

The FTSE 100 Index leapt 1.6% today as an upbeat mood and strong start on Wall Street lent strength to the market.

The British taxpayer was sitting on an estimated £1.2bn (1.4bn) paper profit on its stake in Royal Bank of Scotland today as the rally in the financial sector continued apace.

The London market extended its winning streak to an eleventh day today after a late climb into the black.

The London market capped its tenth consecutive day of gains today after investors pushed ahead with the strongest rally for the market in more than five years.

The FTSE 100 Index suffered a sharp reversal of fortunes today as heavy falls in the US saw the London market undo early gains to lose almost 1%.

Miners pushed the FTSE 100 Index into reverse today as sentiment remained poor on both sides of the Atlantic.

Investors turned against financial stocks again today as the sector pulled the FTSE 100 Index down more than 2%.

The FTSE 100 stayed in the red today despite the continued rally in bank shares.

The FTSE 100 Index held on to its New Year rally today as retail cheer helped offset more bad news for the economy.

There were more woes for retail stocks today after Carpetright and Comet owner Kesa Electricals became the latest to offer gloomy news.

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 FTSE 100 Index finished lower today as worries over the impact of dire Christmas trading conditions continued to hammer shares in the sector.

Insurers made strong advances on the London market today as blue chip stocks regained their poise in a less volatile session.

London’s FTSE 100 Index today slumped almost 9% to cap the worst week for blue chip shares since “Black Monday” in 1987.

The FTSE 100 Index slid more than 2% today as some miserable high street results did nothing to ease fears of a looming UK recession.

A volatile London market swung between positive and negative territories today as investors sought direction in the trading turmoil.

Better-than-expected results from HSBC and Pearson failed to lift confidence on the London market today following last week’s turmoil.

Heavy selling of financial shares saw the London market head towards the 6,000 level today as stocks plummeted around the world.

London shares saw a sharp downturn during afternoon trading after lower-than-expected US retail sales figures led to a tumble in the US markets at the start of the day’s trade.

The London market ran out of steam today as British Airways and the operator of the UK’s biggest coal-fired power station both sustained heavy losses.

FT publisher Pearson today slid from last week's four-and-a-half-year shares high, despite confirming the business was in line for record profits for the year.

THE chairman of property firm Countrywide will write to shareholders this week defending a £940m takeover deal from investor criticism.

The FTSE 100 Index edged towards 6100 today as traders were left unmoved by Gordon Brown’s tenth Pre-Budget Report.

The FTSE 100 Index sunk into the red today as inflation concerns continued to hit world markets.

The London market finished on the front foot today buoyed by a positive start across the Atlantic while Standard Life drew plenty of buying interest during its first session over here.

Disappointment at BP’s annual profits haul of more than £11 billion left the London market deep in the red today.

The London market’s strong start to the year stalled today as a lack of corporate data left it without direction.

The FTSE 100 Index slipped below the 5500 barrier today as lower copper prices scuppered progress by miners.

The London market ended the week camped in positive territory after investors shook off fresh gloom in the DIY sector today.

The fragility of investor confidence was exposed today when the FTSE 100 Index lost hold of early gains of 66 points to close in negative territory.

London’s leading shares staged a late rally to close above 4700 despite record oil prices and downbeat manufacturing news.

Leading shares climbed to their highest for 27 months today as positive sentiment surrounding equities overcame downbeat US economic news.

Oil prices pushing perilously close to the $50 mark left the London market in the doldrums today.

The London market held its own above the key 4400 support level today despite a weak start on Wall Street.

The London market reversed three consecutive sessions of losses today and quashed fears the FTSE 100 Index was heading for a new eight-month low.

Tobacco stocks provided the spark for the FTSE Index 100 Index to press back towards the 4500 barrier today.

THE clock is ticking for hopeful bidders in Hollinger International’s £550 million-plus sale of the Daily Telegraph as a deadline looms this week.

The London market set aside high oil prices to stage an afternoon fightback today but still ended the session in negative territory.

Film studio Pinewood Shepperton, home to James Bond and Harry Potter, says it plans to list on the stock market.

Express group owner Richard Desmond is believed to have withdrawn a bid for the Telegraph Group, according to industry sources.

London shares ended the week on an upbeat note as traders refused to let the Turkey terror blasts unsettle them.

Investors took money off the table today as the optimism behind last week’s 15-month high in the FTSE 100 Index ebbed away.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index closed at its highest point since January today, maintaining its position above the important 4000 barrier.