The sale of ICI took a step closer today after Akzo Nobel’s £8bn (€11.2bn) offer for the Dulux paint maker was cleared by European authorities.

The London market surged higher today as investors returned to the fray following Friday’s dramatic plunge into the red.

One of the most famous names in British industry was set to fall into foreign hands today after Dulux paint maker ICI agreed an £8bn (€11.8bn) takeover offer from Dutch rival Akzo Nobel.

Dulux paint maker ICI is expected to confirm an £8.1bn (€12bn) takeover deal today, which could see one of the oldest names in British industry pass into foreign hands.

Dulux paint maker ICI has agreed to an €11.9bn takeover by Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel, it emerged today.

ICI bidder Akzo Nobel was today given more time by the UK takeover watchdog to table its formal £8bn (€12bn) offer for the Dulux paint maker.

Blue chips endured another choppy day on the London market today as high-profile takeover activity failed to lift stocks into positive territory.

Blue-chip takeover activity and a flurry of broker notes helped limit falls on London’s leading share index today.

The takeover of ICI moved a step closer today after the Dulux paint maker gave Dutch bidder Akzo Nobel “limited” access to its books.

ICI suitor Akzo Nobel is today said to have upped its proposed offer for the Dulux paint maker to just over £8bn (€11.8bn) in its latest attempt to secure the group.

Takeover target ICI today overcame higher raw materials costs and a tougher US market to post a 12% rise in profits.

The London market continued its rollercoaster ride today, closing deep in the red as hopes of a prolonged revival began to fade.

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

London’s blue-chips made tentative gains today after last week’s credit fears sent shockwaves through world markets.

Dulux paint maker ICI is set to reject a second higher takeover approach from Dutch suitor Akzo Nobel worth £7.7bn (€11.4bn), it was reported today.

Dulux paint maker ICI is set to reject a second higher takeover approach from Dutch suitor Akzo Nobel worth £7.7bn (€11.4bn), it was reported today.

The Dutch firm circling chemicals giant ICI was today under increasing pressure to clarify its takeover position on the iconic UK company.

London’s FTSE 100 Index recorded its first positive finish in six sessions today after benefiting from a strong start to trading on Wall Street.

Disappointing sales figures from the UK's largest supermarket chain weighed heavy on the London market today leaving a raft of blue chip retailers in the red.

The UK’s biggest supermarket chain saw its shares slump more than 3% today after its latest sales figures disappointed the City.

The prospect of a takeover battle for ICI left shares in the Dulux-to-chemicals firm at a fresh eight-year high today.

Dulux paint maker ICI was today confirmed as a takeover target of Dutch chemicals firm Akzo Nobel, the owner of rival paints brand Crown.

Dulux paint maker ICI is understood to have turned down a takeover offer from Dutch rival Akzo Nobel valuing the group at around £7.2bn (€10.6bn), a report suggested today.

Banking stocks were under pressure today after Halifax Bank of Scotland sparked concerns over difficult trading in its mortgages arm.

Chemicals and paints giant ICI added to takeover excitement by announcing strong figures for the first three months of 2007 today.

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.

SCHERING-PLOUGH has signed a deal to buy Akzo Nobel’s drugs unit, Organon, for $14.4 billion (€10.92bn) in cash.

Alliance Boots shares were trading above £10 today as investors suspected that bidder Stefano Pessina will need to increase his proposed offer price.

Takeover speculation surrounding chemicals giant ICI was fuelled today by a major fund-raising deal involving a potential suitor.

Chemicals and paints giant ICI continued its stellar stock market performance today as further bid speculation surrounded the firm.

Trading on the London Stock Exchange started the year in an upbeat mood as the FTSE 100 index closed at its highest level in almost six years today.

The FTSE 100 Index closed the year on the back foot but the fall was not enough to take the shine off annual gains of almost 11%.

Dutch drugs and chemicals conglomerate Akzo Nobel today confirmed it would be cutting 350 jobs in response to falling demand at Diosynth, its pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing unit.

Dutch chemical and drug maker Akzo Nobel said today that Paul Bremer, the new US civilian administrator in Iraq, had resigned from its supervisory board because of US rules on conflicts of interest.