Spanish bank Santander is considering a plan to list its UK operations on the London stock market this autumn in a move that could raise as much as £3bn (€3.6bn) to fund growth, it was reported today.

Spanish bank Santander today looked set to be the only firm bidder in the auction of 318 branches being sold by Royal Bank of Scotland.

Spanish banking giant BBVA is considering a potential £2bn (€2.4bn) bid for the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks, it was reported today.

Abbey and Alliance & Leicester parent Santander today said pre-tax profits rose by more than 30% in a “very good” first half performance.

Spanish banking giant Santander is to axe 1,900 jobs in its three UK businesses next year under efficiency moves, the company announced today.

Struggling UK mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley is to be nationalised, the British government confirmed today.

Details began to emerge today of the deal to save the ailing mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley.

Embattled buy-to-let specialist Bradford & Bingley's prospects as a standalone lender are looking bleak, City analysts warned today.

Mortgage rates in Britiain could begin rising again following another significant jump in the cost of wholesale funding today.

The FTSE 100 Index closed at its lowest level for more than three years today after another traumatic session for UK blue chips.

Shareholders in Alliance & Leicester today approved its takeover by Spain’s Banco Santander after being told the deal would provide “certainty and stability” amid the global credit crunch.

Shareholders in Alliance & Leicester will gather today to cast their final votes on the mortgage lender’s proposed £1.3bn (€1.6bn) takeover by Spanish banking giant Santander.

More than £50 billion was wiped off the value of blue chip stocks today as news of Lehman Brothers’ dramatic demise spread havoc throughout world stock markets.

The former boss of Alliance & Leicester has been lined up as the new chief executive of embattled lender Bradford & Bingley, it was reported today.

The FTSE 100 Index was forced onto the back foot today after stocks were dealt a late blow by poor economic news from the US.

Alliance & Leicester today said the credit crunch turmoil had almost completely wiped out profits in the first six months of the year.

Alliance & Leicester announces 99% fall in profits.

Former building societies Abbey and Alliance & Leicester are to be merged under a £1.26bn (€1.5bn) deal announced today.

British mortgage giant Alliance & Leicester said today that it was in advanced talks about a possible takeover of the company.

The FTSE 100 Index was a sea of red today after falling more than 2% amid further signs of economic gloom.

Hefty falls in the banking and insurance sectors wiped another 1% off the London market today to close a volatile week for UK blue chips.

A £4.5bn fundraising move from Barclays lifted bank shares to drive the London market forward today.

Halifax Bank of Scotland led a poor session for financial stocks today as shares returned below the company’s rights issue price of 275p a share.

A rare dose of good news from the high street failed to cheer investors today as more housing market woes dragged the London market into the red.

Halifax Bank of Scotland spread more gloom in the banking sector today as it revealed £1bn (€1.26) in write-downs and warned that house prices could now fall 9% this year.

A rare dose of good news from the high street failed to cheer investors today as more housing market woes dragged the London market into the red.

Halifax Bank of Scotland spread more gloom in the banking sector today as it revealed £1bn (€1.3bn) in write-downs and warned that house prices could now fall 9% this year.

Banking stocks came under further pressure on the London market today as Halifax Bank of Scotland revealed £1bn (€1.3bn) in writedowns and predicted a 9% fall in house prices.

Gains for banking giant Barclays failed to keep the London market from slipping into the red today.

A volatile week for the FTSE 100 Index was underlined today after the index staged an 80 point turnaround to break back through the 5800 barrier.

The London market plunged 1.8% into the red today as fears over potential interest rate rises spooked investors on both sides of the Atlantic.

Pressure on housebuilding shares intensified today after sector-wide downgrades from investment bank Goldman Sachs.

The London market endured a turbulent start to the week today as bank shares came under pressure following a profits warning from lender Bradford & Bingley.

Halifax Bank of Scotland led a sharp decline for blue-chip shares today as investors reacted to the latest blow to confidence in the banking sector.

Shares in British Airways soared 8% today after weakening oil prices and a rival transatlantic operator appointed administrators.

The London market made modest gains today despite falling crude oil prices dragging down energy stocks.

Marks & Spencer’s £1bn profits haul failed to inspire shares today after analysts began to factor in the likely impact of tougher trading conditions on this year’s performance.

Booming mining stocks and yet more oil price rises saw the FTSE 100 index power up to its highest level for nearly five months today.

Miners kept a sluggish London market in positive territory today during a quiet session for blue chip stocks.

Blue chip banks suffered heavy losses on the London market today as fresh fears over Barclays’ balance sheet put the sector under pressure.

Banking shares were today heading for a second successive session of losses amid renewed speculation over the state of Barclays’ balance sheet.

The FTSE 100 Index ended a see-saw session in positive territory today, despite gloomy Bank of England inflation forecasts hitting hopes of interest rate cuts.

The London market was weighed down by weaker banks today after the sector made its latest cash call and expectations for lower interest rates were dashed.

London’s leading share index sank into the red today as a shock rise in UK inflation unnerved investors.