Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland is set to launch the flotation of its Direct Line Group insurance arm within weeks after ending sale talks with private equity buyers, it was reported today.

London's leading shares index closed above the 5,700 mark for the first time in nearly three months today but global growth fears continued to spook investors.

A CLOSURE order was served on part of Cashman’s Bar in Cork city last month.

IT’s 20 years since the iconic movie Thelma and Louise, a cult classic about two women’s wonderful road trip across the US.

Royal Bank of Scotland today said it had sold Brighton’s Hilton Metropole for £39.3m in its 11th large hotel sale since being bailed out.

Royal Bank of Scotland has brought in a team of advisers to help sell its insurance business Direct Line after a flurry of interest from potential buyers - including American billionaire Warren Buffett, it was claimed today.

Royal Bank of Scotland will today reveal office closures at its Churchill and Direct Line business as part of existing plans to cut 2,000 jobs.

Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland today said it planned to axe 2,600 UK jobs at its insurance and retail banking arms.

Royal Bank of Scotland is to pay bonuses totalling £1.3bn (€1.47bn) to its investment bankers despite expectations of grim annual results tomorrow.

Royal Bank of Scotland today announced the sale of its metals, oils and European energy business for $1.7bn as it looks to meet EU demands following its multi-billion pound state bail-out.

Plans to prop up part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will be put to a shareholder vote today.

British Chancellor Alistair Darling today defended British government plans to pump another £30bn (€33.2bn) of public money into banks - insisting the taxpayer was getting a "better deal".

Royal Bank of Scotland said today that it would have to sell more of its businesses than originally planned to gain European approval for state support.

The last member of former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin's failed top team is set to leave the group with a £517,000 (€585,529)-a-year pension.

Royal Bank of Scotland today abandoned plans to sell its insurance arm, which includes the Direct Line, Churchill and Privilege brands.

UK blue chips were lent some Christmas cheer today as commodities boosted London's leading share index despite further dire news from the retail sector.

A marginal lift in oil prices lent a hand to the London market today as commodity stocks bolstered the first post-Christmas session.

Royal Bank of Scotland could abandon efforts to sell its UK insurance operations, it was reported today.

Royal Bank of Scotland is this week expected to raise £950m (€1.2bn) through the sale of its stake in Tesco Personal Finance to the supermarket giant.

Royal Bank of Scotland today confirmed it was in talks to sell ABN Amro’s Australian and New Zealand operations.

Supermarket giant Tesco today announced plans to launch a new website to help people shop around for car insurance.

Royal Bank of Scotland said today it was in good shape after half-year profits hit £5bn (€7.4bn) and it eased worries about recent market turbulence.

The devastating floods that have hit the UK in recent months have prompted some of Britain’s leading insurers to raise the cost of their household premiums by an average of 10%, according to reports.

Man of the moment, Shane Jennings, is returning to Leinster next season, but fans might not get a glimpse of him in blue until November if the open-side flanker makes it to the World Cup.

Staff at Royal Bank of Scotland have been told they face disciplinary action if they do not open an account with their employer.

NatWest owner Royal Bank of Scotland took the first-half profits haul from the UK’s five major banking groups to more than £19bn (€28.1bn) today.

When it comes to culinary chauvinism, Italians take the cake.

Royal Bank of Scotland today added another £3.38bn (€5.13bn) to the bumper profits haul accumulated by the UK’s biggest banks in the first six months of 2004.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBoS) has signed an agreement to acquire Prudential's 79% stake in the internet bank Egg, according to a report in the French daily newspaper Le Monde.

ROYAL Bank of Scotland Group, Britain’s second-largest bank, agreed to buy the Swiss private banking unit of HVB Group for 324.5 million, its second foreign acquisition move this week.

Banking giant Royal Bank of Scotland today said it was buying Dublin-based mortgage lender First Active to merge with its Ulster Bank subsidiary.

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.