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

Noddy is set to drive into new markets as he celebrates his 60th birthday this year, parent company Chorion revealed today.

The FTSE 100 Index pushed ahead today as better-than-expected overseas news cheered investors.

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 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.

Buy-out firms are circling Britain’s biggest housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, it was reported today.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares saw an upward swing this morning after yesterday's bruising losses.

Property firms dragged on the London market today after a cautious update from Land Securities.

Takeover talk in the property sector helped stem losses on the London market as investors exercised caution ahead of the interest rate decision.

The London market stormed ahead to finish the week at its highest level for nearly six-and-a-half years, closing 46 points up at 6462.4 on Friday.

Two of the UK’s biggest names in children’s retailing could come together, it was reported today.

The London market experienced a slight rally in afternoon trading today as the FTSE 100 Index clawed back some of the session’s earlier losses.

The FTSE 100 Index finished deep in negative territory today as results from a host of blue-chip firms failed to inspire the London market.

British cleaning and maintenance group Enterprise is today understood to be on the brink of a sale to private equity group 3i after accepting an offer worth £486m (€720m).

Fox’s Biscuits owner Northern Foods said today it was out of the auction for Burton’s Foods – the firm behind Wagon Wheels and Maryland Cookies.

The UK’s largest estate agency chain today confirmed it had received a preliminary takeover approach from an unnamed suitor.

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.

Anglian Water owner AWG found itself back in the spotlight today as speculation mounted that it could be on the brink of a bid battle.

The London market continued to build on its five-month high today as utility companies took centre stage and investors cheered another record performance on Wall Street.

Energy company Viridian – parent of Northern Ireland Electricity – today confirmed it was the subject of takeover interest.

The unnamed bidder behind a takeover approach for the owner of Anglian Water was today said to be a consortium that includes UK private equity group 3i and a Canadian government pension fund.

Woolworths is to begin supplying Sainsbury’s with entertainment products after a £20m (€29.6m) acquisition offset the loss of a wholesale contract with Tesco.

British Airways said today it continued to review its ownership of Air Miles, amid speculation that the long-running loyalty scheme could be sold.

Interflora today looked set to change hands for a second time in 18 months after management backed its sale to a US-based trading partner for £65.7m (€94.7m).

EUROPE’S top home-improvement retailer, Kingfisher Plc, posted a near-halving of first-quarter profit yesterday, and said it was still struggling with weak consumer demand in its core home market.

BRITAIN’S Office of Fair Trading said it will not refer Johnston Press PLC’s acquisition of Northern Ireland’s Local Press Ltd, publisher of the Derry Journal, to the Competition Commission, providing certain conditions are met.

The Co-operative Group expanded its funeralcare operations today after securing majority control of the UK’s fourth-largest player.

Department stores chain House of Fraser was said today to be on the shopping list of private equity firm Apax Partners after revealing a bid approach last week.

Media giant Reuters and defence firm BAE Systems were the chief culprits behind a heavy fall by the FTSE 100 Index today.

A takeover of British ports operator PD Ports was under threat today following the emergence of a second approach from Australia.

The British ports industry today woke up to its second major takeover in 24 hours when North East-based operator PD Ports accepted a £246m (€359m) offer.

Troubled Rentokil Initial today said it hoped to get more than £300m (€439.7m) from the sale of its conference centres.

JOHNSTON PRESS, the Scottish newspaper group, has splashed out more than €240 million to become the largest regional publisher in Ireland with the takeover of the Leinster Leader Group and Northern Ireland’s Local Press company.

The Leinster Leader group of newspapers is likely to be sold British newspaper publisher Johnston Pressfor €139m.

Car safety seats-to-pushchairs firm Britax Childcare broke free from its parent company today after being sold in a deal worth £230m (€339m).

Trinity Mirror today became the latest newspaper publisher to strengthen its position in the online jobs market.

Britrish car park operator NCP was today poised to change hands for the second time in three years in a deal worth £555m (€806m).

The FTSE 100 Index ended the week below the 5000 mark today after disappointing unemployment data in the United States.

LIGHT engineering group Unidare is to sell its Dutch subsidiary Daalderop to venture capital group 3i for €55 million.

SCOTTISH Radio Holdings has snapped up Donegal Highland Radio, its third Irish takeover in five years.

British womenswear retailer Hobbs shook off the gloom on the rest of the high street today by revealing profits soared 38% last year.

British pet superstore chain Pets at Home today unveiled plans for more than a dozen new stores this year, as it reported a 45% hike in earnings.