NatWest owner Royal Bank of Scotland today reported half-year profits of £5.1bn (€7.6bn), an increase of 11% on a year earlier.

Vic Reeves is hoping to become a literary heavyweight with a new collection of short stories.

Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns NatWest and Churchill Insurance, unveiled sharply higher annual profits of £9.19bn (€29.5bn) today.

The Creature Comforts have topped a list of favourite animated and puppet characters used in UK adverts.

The FTSE 100 Index edged towards 6100 today as traders were left unmoved by Gordon Brown’s tenth Pre-Budget Report.

Royal Bank of Scotland’s annual pre-tax profits will top £9bn (€13.3bn) this year after the group said it performed well in 2006.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has announced it has made £7.15bn (€10.6bn) in core profits in the last year.

First Active shareholders will get their say on the proposed takeover of the bank by Royal Bank of Scotland at an extraordinary general meeting on Thursday.

Banks look set to dominate the British financial headlines next week when some of the UK’s best known high street names report half-year results.

The FTSE 100 Index was in need of a lift today as the London market paused for breath after a recent strong run.

London’s leading shares maintained their upward momentum today as another psychologically important barrier moved into view.

The FTSE 100 Index surged towards the 4200 mark today as investors on both sides of the Atlantic showed a renewed sense of optimism.

Churchill Insurance, one of Britain’s biggest car and home insurers, has been put up for sale with a £1.5 billion price tag by its owner Credit Suisse Group.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and Tanaiste, Mary Harney, have announced the creation of more than 1,000 jobs in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Birr.