The City watchdog today played down reports that it had concerns about Abbey National suitor Banco Santander Central Hispano.

Potential Abbey National bidder HBOS would present an offer for its high street rival as good for competition and customers, it was reported yesterday.

Potential Abbey National bidder HBOS would present an offer for its high street rival as good for competition and customers, it was reported today.

The Spanish bank poised to take over Abbey National is to speed up its £8.2bn (€12.2bn) takeover to head off interest from rival bidders, it was reported today.

THE Spanish bank poised to take over British mortgage lender Abbey National will walk away if the £8.2 billion deal (€12.3 billion) is stalled by competition concerns, it was reported yesterday.

The Spanish bank poised to take over Britain's Abbey National will walk away if the £8.2bn (€12.1bn) deal is stalled by competition concerns, it was reported today.

Abbey National said it remained committed to a takeover by Spain’s largest bank today despite speculation linking it to a deal with a UK rival.

Speculation over a bidding war for Abbey National refused to die down today amid reports two more UK groups were reviewing their positions.

Banking group Barclays today said its UK arm had performed well as it posted a 23% rise in half-yearly pre-tax profits to a record £2.4bn (€3.6bn).

Abbey National shares made further gains today after it emerged that Halifax and Bank of Scotland group HBOS was thinking over a rival bid for the UK bank.

BANKING group HBOS is mulling a possible £9 billion counter-bid for takeover target Abbey National, it was reported yesterday.

Banking group HBOS is mulling a possible £9bn (€13.6bn) counter-bid for takeover target Abbey National, it was reported today.

A host of updates from blue-chip companies lifted the London market today as it continued to recover from its recent nine-month low.

London shares made healthy progress today as upbeat news from a host of blue-chip companies cheered investors.

Positive momentum on the London market was being driven by financial stocks today as the sector recovered from yesterday’s decline.

The London market slumped to a new low in 2004 today as investors gave the cold shoulder to a takeover bid for Abbey National.

The London market switched into reverse gear today as investors failed to warm to the proposed takeover of banking group Abbey National.

Abbey National today said it had reached agreement with Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH) on the terms of a takeover by the Spanish bank.

The board of Abbey National was today expected to back an £8bn (€12bn)-plus takeover bid for the group from a Spanish bank.

The board of Abbey National was understood to be meeting today to discuss whether to recommend an £8bn-plus (€12bn) takeover approach from a Spanish bank.

British banking group Abbey National is in takeover talks with Spanish bank Banco Santander Central Hispano, it emerged today.

Shares in troubled banking group Abbey National soared 16% today after it confirmed it had received a takeover approach.

Billy Saunderson, chief executive of card payments company EuroConex, talks to David Clerkin.

Banking group Abbey National remained tight-lipped over a weekend report claiming it had received a “serious” takeover offer from a Spanish bank.

Banking group Abbey National today remained tight-lipped over a report claiming it had received a “serious” takeover offer from a Spanish bank.

CREDIT Suisse First Boston (CSFB) yesterday downgraded several top European banks on valuation grounds but maintained its overweight rating on the sector.