Defence giant BAE Systems fired the London market back above the 5700 threshold today as analysts warmed further to a major deal with Saudi Arabia.

James Crosby has been on a winning streak since leading Halifax into its transformational tie-up with Bank of Scotland in 2001.

Investors kicked off a new year of trading in style today by sending the FTSE 100 Index soaring to a new four-year high.

Low cost airline Ryanair posted a 21% improvement in first quarter profits today, despite seeing its fuel bill more than double on a year earlier.

Takeover talk swirling around internet bank Egg helped the FTSE 100 Index hit a fresh three-year high today.

The FTSE 100 Index plunged more than 200 points early today as traders reacted to the carnage caused in the heart of London.

Accountancy software group Sage today brushed aside fears that customers were reducing budgets for new technology by signalling a 16% hike in half-year profits.

The UK’s largest coal-fired power station is poised to list on the stock market by the end of this year, it emerged today.

Manchester United fans were today braced for more off-the-field gloom after forecasts showed the club would report a sharp fall in profits this week.

The German group circling the London Stock Exchange today said it had no plans to raise its £1.4bn (€2bn) takeover bid.

The FTSE 100 Index failed to move into positive territory today despite a major boost for drugmakers.

Clothing retailer Hennes & Mauritz today blamed the timing of New Year for its worst sales performance in 15 months.

Record results from BP helped the FTSE 100 Index creep even closer to the landmark 5000 barrier today.

Record results from BP ensured the FTSE 100 Index kept the landmark 5000 barrier within its sights today.

Online betting group PartyGaming could float on the London stock market, it emerged today.

A previously unknown Russian company called BaikalFinansGroup bought the core production unit of oil giant Yukos at auction for €7bn today, gaining control of one of Russia’s most prized oil assets for a fraction of what Yukos executives say it is worth.

London shares recovered to end the day above 4700 after healthcare stocks led Wall Street higher.

Top flight shares remained in poor shape in London today as investors booked profits after a downbeat session in New York.

Shares in Yukos, Russia’s second-largest oil producer, posted their biggest drop in two months after Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein valued Yukos’s main unit at as much as one-third lower than investors expected.

More than 75% of the beleaguered Yukos oil company’s 2000 tax debt has been recovered from the company, a Russian Justice Ministry official was quoted as saying today.

Tesco further boosted its domination of the British supermarket sector today as it beat market expectations with a 24% hike in half-year profits to £822m (€1.2bn).

London shares extended their winning streak to a fourth session today as investors turned their eyes towards the key 4600 barrier.

A late surge by blue-chip shares helped the FTSE 100 Index close the session in positive territory today.

A major investment bank yesterday told clients to have sex, meditate, get more sleep and stop believing money can bring happiness.

Shares in Marks & Spencer surged 4% today amid speculation that a £10bn (€15bn) bidding battle for the retailer was set to break out.

GALEN founder and former president Allen McClay sold a 6.3% stake in the Northern Irish drugmaker for around £97 million (€147m) yesterday, sources close to the deal said. The sale spurred a drop in its share price.

Pharmacy chain Boots today denied leaking price-sensitive information ahead of a trading statement that knocked almost 13% off its market value.

SHARES in British mobile phone giant Vodafone fell more than 3% yesterday after the City came out against a mooted £18 billion expansion in North America.

GERMAN retail sales fell 1.8% in November, the biggest drop in eight months, evidence that an export-led economic recovery in Europe’s largest economy has yet to bolster consumer spending.

US retail sales excluding cars rose in September following an August rise that was almost twice as much as reported a month earlier, the government said.

AS Manchester United’s profits soared to record levels yesterday, the company’s biggest shareholders, Irish duo JP McManus and John Magnier, have seen the value of their holding in the club soar by 37.9% in three months to €38.42m.

OPEC, supplier of a third of the world’s oil, is planning to cut production from its highest level in 18 months to prevent a price slump as demand slows and Iraqi sales near a return to the market.

Manchester United may have been toppled as Premiership champions but the club is still expected to report a 9% rise in half-year turnover to £89.3m (€130m) and a 14% increase in underlying earnings to £36.5m (€53m) on Tuesday.

The UK’s top companies are collectively facing a pensions blackhole of up to £100bn (€144bn), research claimed today.

Troubled telecoms group Cable & Wireless saw more than £850m (€1.3bn) wiped from its value today after shocking the market with the emergence of a potential £1.5bn (€2.35bn) liability.

Japanese data this week will be sidelined by concerns over the release of policy announcements on Wednesday covering plans to speed up non-performing loan resolution and implement anti-deflation measures.

SHARES in Bank of Ireland and its takeover target reacted in pendulum style to news of the possible merger when markets opened yesterday [[[[]]]] Bank of Ireland fell while Abbey National rose.

Having endured days of jittery trading dominated by anxiety about US stocks, Asian share prices bounced back this morning, cheered by the strong rally overnight on Wall Street.

Dublin headquartered Macalla Software has announced that it is to reduce its Irish and overseas headcount by 11. Nine of the jobs affected will be in Dublin. Macalla currently employs 65 people.

Marconi has seen its market value further slashed as fears grow that the group could buckle under its debts.