The FTSE 100 Index slipped below the 5000 barrier today after another gruelling session for top-flight banking shares.

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

A Royal Bank of Scotland-led team today sealed victory in the battle for Dutch bank ABN Amro.

The London market today made a lacklustre beginning to the week despite renewed hopes of a rescue bid for crisis-hit mortgage lender Northern Rock.

A Royal Bank of Scotland-led team today clinched victory in the six-month takeover battle for Dutch bank ABN Amro.

Troubled mortgage bank Northern Rock enjoyed a rally today amid renewed speculation over the future of the lender.

INVESTORS representing 85% of shares in ABN AMRO have accepted a €70 billion bid for the Dutch bank from a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Financial Times has said.

Banking giant Barclays today conceded defeat in its bid to buy Dutch bank ABN Amro after a six-month battle.

The Royal Bank of Scotland-led team battling Barclays for ABN Amro is a clear favourite to land the Dutch bank, ABN’s chief executive said today.

Barclays today gained shareholder support for its merger with Dutch bank ABN Amro but said it was prepared to walk away from the deal if the price was not right.

Barclays led a downturn for the London market today after fears grew about the banking group’s exposure to the US sub-prime mortgage market.

The shockwaves resounding around world markets may have seen a host of corporate deals shelved, but the turmoil could yet be decisive in the outcome of the world’s biggest banking takeover.

Barclays’ bid for Dutch bank ABN Amro received a boost today after it was granted approval from Dutch regulators.

Royal Bank of Scotland’s plans to buy ABN Amro were boosted today when its shareholders overwhelmingly approved the £48bn (€70bn) takeover proposal.

Royal Bank of Scotland moved a step closer to clinching the takeover of Dutch bank ABN Amro today after bidding partner Fortis won vital shareholder approval for the deal.

The long-running takeover battle for ABN Amro reached a critical stage today as Barclays formally launched its takeover offer and shareholders at one of its rival bidders prepared for a key vote.

DUTCH bank ABN AMRO is leaning towards dropping its support for Barclays’ €69 billion takeover offer, Dutch daily Het Financieele Dagblad reported on Saturday.

The move by the state-controlled China Development Bank (CDB) for a £2.5bn stake in Barclays today marks the latest flexing of financial muscles by the Chinese government.

The Chinese and Singaporean governments became major shareholders in Barclays bank today as the bank raised its offer for Dutch takeover target ABN Amro.

A Royal Bank of Scotland-led team today put further pressure on rival ABN Amro suitor Barclays, as the consortium tabled a formal £48.2bn (€47.7bn) offer for the Dutch Bank.

A Royal Bank of Scotland-led team today put further pressure on rival ABN Amro suitor Barclays, as the consortium tabled a formal £48.2 billion offer for the Dutch Bank.

Royal Bank of Scotland turned up the heat on rival Barclays after today sweetening the terms of its £48.2 bn (€71bn) offer for Dutch bank ABN Amro.

Royal Bank of Scotland today unveiled the terms of a revised £48bn (€70.9bn) offer for Dutch bank ABN Amro.

A Royal Bank of Scotland-led team today said it would press on with a new offer for ABN Amro despite a court ruling allowing the Dutch bank to sell its US banking operation, LaSalle.

London’s blue-chips were in buoyant mood today after a record showing from US markets overnight.

The Royal Bank of Scotland-led bid for ABN Amro was thrown into disarray today as a Dutch Supreme Court ruling gave the go-ahead for the sale of ABN’s American banking operation.

The contest for ABN Amro will take a new twist on Friday when a vital court ruling is delivered on the sale of the Dutch bank’s US business LaSalle, it was announced today.

Around £1.2bn (€1.78bn) was wiped from BAE Systems shares today after the defence giant said it faced an anti-corruption probe by the US Department of Justice.

Barclays was given a fillip today in its fight to fend off a counterbid for ABN Amro when a senior Dutch legal officer said the sale of American bank LaSalle did not need to go to shareholder vote.

Royal Bank of Scotland and its partners in the battle for ABN Amro said today they expected to launch their offer for the Dutch bank in mid-July.

A New York-based activist investor has called on British bank Barclays to drop its takeover of Dutch rival ABN Amro.

A New York-based activist investor has called on Barclays to drop its takeover of Dutch rival ABN Amro, it emerged today.

Royal Bank of Scotland today said earnings in the first half of the year were rising “slightly” higher than expected in a sign that it is business as usual for the group despite its tense takeover battle for Dutch rival ABN Amro.

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Fred Goodwin spoke of his ambition to catapult the business “to the top of the premier league” this week if his attempts to land Dutch bank ABN Amro are successful.

The Royal Bank of Scotland-led team vying to buy Dutch bank ABN Amro today laid out details of its plans to trump rival Barclays with a €71.1bn takeover plan for the business.

A consortium headed by Royal Bank of Scotland is likely to announce details of a takeover offer worth £49bn (€66bn) for Dutch bank ABN Amro tomorrow.

The London market edged into positive territory today as takeover speculation gave blue-chips a late lift.

Barclays’ rivals in the battle for ABN Amro today said they would reveal their hand over a potential counter-bid for the Dutch bank on Tuesday.

The FTSE-100 index at the close was down 0.8 at 6549.6.

The battle to take control of ABN Amro intensified today after the Dutch bank rejected an €18bn bid proposal for its American banking business LaSalle from a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland.

Royal Bank of Scotland was today reported to have made a £12bn (€17.6bn) offer for LaSalle, the US bank at the heart of the ABN Amro takeover saga.

A Royal Bank of Scotland-led team competing with rival Barclays to buy ABN Amro is expected to hold fresh talks with the Dutch bank over the weekend.

Attempts by Royal Bank of Scotland to lead a buy-out of ABN Amro were boosted today when a court blocked the Dutch bank’s sale of its US business LaSalle.

BANK of Ireland’s share price shot up by 3.7% in Dublin yesterday, an increase of 60 cents, as rumours gripped the markets that British bank, HBOS (Halifax Bank of Scotland) is about to bid for the country’s second-largest bank.