Fyffes has granted its proposed merger partner Chiquita permission to talk to rival bidder, Cutrale-Safra.

The proposed merger of Fyffes and US rival, Chiquita has been thrown into further doubt, with two more investor advisory firms urging the American firm to adjourn an upcoming shareholder vote and engage in discussions with a rival bidder.

Spain and Italy have appealed to European policymakers to step up the response to the financial crisis after a €100bn lifeline for Spanish banks failed to calm markets.

Rupert Murdoch was grilled about covert surveillance techniques by News Corp employees as the company held its first shareholders meeting since the phone-hacking scandal broke.