Another strong session for blue chip insurers helped London’s leading share index close in positive territory today, despite heavy falls among banks.

Falls among banks offset more strong advances in the insurance sector today as HSBC plunged lower in the wake of its £12.5bn (€13.3bn) rights issue approval.

IT’S not just Irish investors who are being stung by the collapse of the property market in what was once western Europe’s most dynamic economy.

THE outlook for Anglo Irish Bank’s surviving as a standalone entity deteriorated further yesterday as its shares plunged about 28% for the second day in a row.

London’s leading share index remained in the red today despite a late session boost from Wall Street.

BANK OF IRELAND chief executive Brian Goggin insisted his organisation, once the biggest company on the Irish stockmarket has no plans to ask shareholders for money.

Commodity stocks put the FTSE 100 Index back on the front foot today as buyers returned to the market following yesterday’s sell off.

The London market held firm in positive territory today as stocks regained their poise following the turmoil seen yesterday on Bradford & Bingley's profits warning.

Carphone Warehouse today announced plans to create a European consumer electronics empire after striking a £1.1bn (€1.4bn) deal with US group Best Buy.

Commercial broadcaster ITV led declines on the London market today amid fears over advertising revenues in another turbulent day for blue chip stocks.

THE High Court has confirmed the scheme of arrangement for the survival of International Securities Trading Corporation (ISTC), which lends capital to financial institutions and was placed under court protection last November when it became insolvent due to the crisis in the credit markets.

BRITISH investment bank Collins Stewart is to buy struggling lender International Securities Trading Corporation (ISTC) in a €5 million rescue deal.

Banking giant Barclays today posted profits of £7.08bn (€9.4bn) for 2007, but revealed a £1.6bn (€2.1bn) hit from the credit crunch and warned of “at least” another six months of turmoil.

Investors in stricken bank Northern Rock today faced the prospect of getting next to nothing for their shares after the British government’s decision to nationalise the lender.

British banking group HSBC today revealed an extra $1.4bn ($954m) hit in its American mortgage business as it continues to suffer from the country's sub-prime lending crisis.

A profits warning from Currys owner DSG International weighed on retailers today and pushed blue-chip stocks into negative territory.

UK banking giants are understood to have forked out an estimated £200m (€297m) so far this year on settling claims relating to “unfair” overdraft fee and interest charges, according to a recent report.

BETTING firm WorldSpread is planning a multi-million euro flotation on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

Budget airline easyJet today ramped up the price war in the low cost flights market, amid signs that airlines are struggling to fill their planes.

Fading takeover hopes saw brewer Scottish & Newcastle give back some of its recent gains today as it led a downturn for the London market.

FINANCIAL services group Collins Stewart Europe Limited is to take over Hawkpoint Holdings Limited, an independent corporate finance advisory firms in Britain.

British Airways shares lost more than 1% of their value today after the airline cancelled flights in the wake of wildcat strikes at Heathrow.

Cartoon strongman He-Man beefed up shares in Entertainment Rights today after the firm struck a deal to launch DVDs featuring the character in North America.

Shares in stockbrokers Collins Stewart rose 5% yesterday after it was cleared of market abuse.

A City stockbroking firm was today circling the Telegraph Group after confirming it has made an offer thought to be worth up to £500m (€714m).