The surviving part of the collapsed Woolworths empire may be placed in administration by the end of the week in a move that could hit the chain’s pension fund, it was reported today.

Emergency talks to save Woolworths from administration were expected to continue today as a revised rescue deal was drawn up, it was reported.

Efforts to rescue the stores arm of Woolworths in the UK are close to collapse after the retailer’s lenders refused to sign up to a deal, it was reported today.

British high street retailer Woolworths confirmed today it is in talks over the possible sale of its retail business.

The founder of the Iceland frozen food chain has launched a surprise bid for Woolworths retail arm, a report said today.

The trading woes at Woolworths deepened today after the retail chain reported a sharp deterioration in sales and margins during June and July.

British retail chain Woolworths has boosted hopes of a long-awaited revival in its retail business after it said it had made a "solid start" to the year.

UK investors will be focused on the retail sector this week as some major names from the high street are due to post trading updates or results.

Woolworths unveiled a much-needed boost today after its wholesale arm secured a major contract to supply Virgin Retail with entertainment products.

Woolworths is to begin supplying Sainsbury’s with entertainment products after a £20m (€29.6m) acquisition offset the loss of a wholesale contract with Tesco.

The latest round of takeover interest in London failed to inspire the market today as it slipped just off yesterday’s recent high.

British retailer Woolworths revealed today that its wholesale distribution arm had lost a contract to supply Tesco with DVDs, music and games products.

The London market held on to its recent strong gains today as investors resisted the urge to take profits.

A potential stumbling block to a takeover of Woolworths emerged today after the fine print of a key contract revealed a change of control clause.