Embattled supermarket Tesco has announced that it is beefing up its board as it battles sliding sales and faces a probe into a £250m accounting blunder.

Catering company Compass, which has several operations in Ireland, said half-year pre-tax profits rose 8% to £611m (€719.2m).

Pressure is mounting in the UK on disgraced former HBOS bosses amid anger over mammoth pension pots and nearly £1m of “bonuses for going bust”.

Compass, the world’s biggest catering firm, said revenues growth in the first half of its financial year is expected to be around 5% higher on a comparable working-days basis.

DNA testing of meat will become a routine part of food testing nationwide, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said.

A major Irish catering firm has admitted burgers it served to 40 sites in the Republic and Northern Ireland — including two secondary schools — have tested positive for “horse DNA”.

The Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health with experts from EU countries met to approve the series of tests proposed by agriculture ministers earlier this week as the horsemeat controversy widened further yesterday.

Catering company Compass said today that Irish sites where it operates had been supplied with burgers from Rangeland - an Irish processor found to have had two consignments of meat with horse DNA.

Fresh fears over the eurozone debt crisis hit sentiment on the London market today after the EU failed to agree a bail out deal for stricken Greece.

The London market lost ground today as investors eyed events in the eurozone at the start of another vital week in its battle for survival.

A NORTHERN meat processor, which supplies the HSE and Irish defence forces, has opened up a growing market for Irish Dexter beef sales to up-market hotels, restaurants and retailers across Britain and Ireland.

BP led a fresh rally for the FTSE 100 Index today as higher oil prices and the potential resumption of dividend payments cheered investors.

The FTSE 100 Index finished in the red today but that did not prevent it enjoying its best September for 13 years.

A late rally rescued a lacklustre session for investors today as financial markets gave a lukewarm response to the new coalition government.

The FTSE 100 Index suffered an uncertain session today as traders digested mixed messages on the economic recovery.

The world's biggest catering firm today said it was unlikely to see a return to sales growth in the financial year ahead as economic woes continue to hit corporate hospitality spend.

The FTSE 100 Index ran out of steam today as investors paused for breath in the face of mixed economic news on both sides of the Atlantic.

Oil firms propped up the London market today after the FTSE 100 Index slumped on Thursday due to downbeat housing market data from the United States.

RESTAURANTS will no longer be able to include 69 fish species on their menus after contract caterers said it will no longer provide them due to fears of over-fishing.

The FTSE 100 Index surged 2% today as miners posted big gains on positive global economic news.

The FTSE 100 Index shed more than 2% today as cautious economic forecasts from the Bank of England dealt a blow to market sentiment.

A cautious economic forecast from the Bank of England left the FTSE 100 Index in the red today and sent the pound slumping back from recent gains.

The British government will lose hundreds of millions of pounds on its plan to part-privatise the Royal Mail because of the timing of its controversial proposals, a new report claimed today.

The FTSE 100 Index lost more ground today in a drifting session as lingering concerns over US earnings weighed on investors.

The FTSE 100 Index followed global markets lower today as commodity stocks came under pressure.

The London market soared more than 4% today as better than expected sales figures from retail giant Marks & Spencer helped lift spirits.

The FTSE 100 Index rallied in the last few minutes of trade today after the Bank of England reduced borrowing costs to 1% – the lowest in its history.

Banks and housebuilders made gains on the London market today ahead of another expected cut in interest rates and after a surprise lift in house prices.

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

The London market sank into the red today as falling oil prices overshadowed advances from caterer Compass and platinum specialist Johnson Matthey.

A potential merger between British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia cheered British investors today despite wider gloom over the banking sector.

The London market endured a turbulent start to the week today as bank shares came under pressure following a profits warning from lender Bradford & Bingley.

A flight attendant angry about his work route started a fire in a toilet, forcing an emergency landing, authorities said today.

The FTSE 100 Index ended a see-saw session in positive territory today, despite gloomy Bank of England inflation forecasts hitting hopes of interest rate cuts.

London’s leading share index held firm in positive territory today as a rally in the housebuilding sector and strong gains from banks gave the market a boost.

A positive stance for banking stocks and some well received trading updates helped lift the London market today.

A 10% rise in profits for the UK’s biggest bank today failed to stave off a downbeat beginning to the week for the FTSE 100 Index.

The FTSE 100 Index endured a difficult start to the week today as losses for banks sent the London market more than 1% lower.

Strong gains in the mining sector helped the London market regain its poise today after yesterday’s heavy losses.

London’s FTSE 100 Index was on the front foot today as traders dusted themselves down after yesterday’s heavy fall.

Materials technology firm Johnson Matthey led the London market higher today as bid rumours swirled around the blue-chip stock.

London’s blue chips made little headway today despite strong overnight gains in the US.

Reassuring news from banking giant Barclays and stronger-than-expected early trading on Wall Street helped limit falls on the London market today.

London’s blue-chips made firm advances today as financial and housebuilding stocks returned to form.