Wexford Milk Producers (WMP) co-op members have voted to sell Wexford Creamery to Glanbia Ingredients Ireland.

One of the dairy firms targeted by British farmers in blockades this summer is to increase the amount it pays for milk.

Nearly 3,000 dairy farmers attended the recent SOS Milk Summit in London to express their frustration and anger over milk prices.

The possibility of a merger between a southern Irish co-op and First Milk in the UK has been raised by Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers chairman David Cotton.

Dairy Crest Group has lost its contract to supply milk to Tesco, Britain’s largest retailer, and the company said it was looking at closing two facilities, which will affect about 470 employees.

Dairy Crest Group is looking to sell its French branded spreads business, St Hubert, in a deal that analysts expect will fetch the dairy foods company about €360m.

Greencore has today swooped for M&S food supplier Uniq in a deal wrapping up the last remaining slice of the former Unigate empire.

Greencore Group today swooped for M&S food supplier Uniq in a deal wrapping up the last remaining slice of the former Unigate empire.

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

The London market fell into the red today in the face of deepening concerns over a European debt crisis, with the banking sector bearing the brunt of the pressure.

BP outperformed its oil rivals in the FTSE 100 Index today after incoming chief executive Bob Dudley announced a raft of measures aimed at rebuilding the shaken company.

The FTSE 100 Index failed to make headway today as a surprise fall in retail sales weighed on sentiment.

The UK retail sector's recent rally was knocked off course today after the Office for National Statistics reported an unexpected fall in sales last month.

GLANBIA’S Food Ingredients Ireland business is worth about €150m if valued similarly to Wexford Creamery, where a partial buyout has been confirmed, according to Goodbody Stockbrokers.

A CO-OP of 350 dairy farmers has agreed to take control of Wexford Creamery from Dairy Crest at a cost of €9 million.

BP shares slumped more than 4% today after the oil giant was punished for its failure to meet the City’s estimates on fourth quarter profits.

There was further stock market pain for retailers today after Marks & Spencer sent a chill through the sector with warnings over the trading outlook.

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.

Barclays led another day of gains for the banking sector today as shares raced ahead after it confirmed it was unlikely to need to raise more cash to bolster its finances.

Shares in Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group jumped by more than 7% today as sentiment in the sector continued to show signs of improvement.

Heavyweight commodity stocks helped the FTSE 100 Index gain some ground today after China unveiled a multi-billion plan to help its economy.

The FTSE 100 Index surged ahead today as traders were buoyed by news of a multi-billion plan to boost the Chinese economy.

British Airways suffered share price misery today in the wake of the high-profile problems hitting the opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

Dairy group and cheesemaker Lactalis McLelland today became the latest firm to admit its part in the price-fixing scandal thought to have cost consumers around £270m (€361m).

Stronger travel firms and expectations of a further cut in US interest rates ensured the London market traded on the front foot today.

The London market held firm above the 6500 barrier today as housebuilders and miners encouraged the blue-chip index to race ahead.

Supermarkets Asda and Sainsbury’s were today fined over their roles in a dairy price-fixing scandal thought to have cost consumers around £270m (€374m).

Housebuilding shares continued their rebound today as traders eyed value in the sector after yesterday’s quarter point cut in interest rates.

UK supermarket giants Asda and Sainsbury’s today agreed to pay multi-million pound fines after they admitted fixing the price of milk, cheese and butter.

The creation of a £1bn (€1.4bn) dairy giant was in the pipeline today after two farming co-operatives announced plans to join forces.

Leading UK supermarkets and dairy processors were today accused of fixing the prices of milk, butter and cheese.

British Airways shares were on the front foot today as it became the latest company to find itself at the centre of takeover speculation.

Some of London’s biggest stocks were in focus today as the FTSE 100 Index made strong progress after the holiday weekend.

Clover and Country Life maker Dairy Crest said today it was on track to meet results expectations despite a weaker market for its UK spreads.

Food group Dairy Crest was today poised to become one of the leading spread manufacturers in France.

Investors received a shot in the arm today after the FTSE 100 Index followed the lead of US markets to rise by more than 100 points.

Strong performances from Vodafone and gambling stocks helped the London markets move ahead today.

London’s leading shares dropped almost 1% today as the market bore the brunt of heavy losses for mining stocks and banks suffered from fresh concerns over interest rates.

Shares in London plunged back into the red today as the markets failed to build on strong gains in the previous session.

Dairy Crest today reported a decline in pre-tax profits after rising energy costs and the loss of a contract to supply milk to Tesco outweighed strong sales of its branded cheeses and spreads.

Dairy Crest hailed the popularity of Cathedral City today after reporting another strong performance from the key brand in its cheese portfolio.

The London market had the 5600 threshold firmly in its sights tonight after hopes of an early cut in interest rates ensured a fourth positive session in a row.

The FTSE 100 Index languished around its opening mark today as a lack of corporate data left it without much direction.

The FTSE 100 Index travelled in positive territory today as investors in drugs stocks took heart from a US rival triumphing in a patent dispute.