British brewing company Greene King has been given an extension — until close of business on Tuesday — to formally show its hand in the takeover battle for UK bar group, Spirit Pub Company.

Fears that the European Central Bank will fail to prescribe the medicine needed for the ailing eurozone triggered big losses on London's leading shares index today.

Supermarket giant Tesco failed to win over investors with its £1bn plan to revive its UK arm today as the grocer followed world markets into the red.