Banking shares kept the London market aloft today following bullish comment on the sector from investment brokers.

Daily Mail & General Trust today said it saw a record full-year performance from its Daily Mail and Metro newspapers as it reported a 23% leap in profits.

UK blue chip stocks rallied for a second session today after a fightback for financial firms and miners.

THE Competition Authority (CA) is conducting a full investigation into plans by once bitter rivals to merge Dublin free sheets Metro and Herald AM.

PRE-tax profits at the publishers of the Irish Daily Mail and Irish Mail on Sunday newspaper titles in Ireland fell slightly last year from €900,398 to €868,139.

London’s blue-chip stocks fell almost 3% today as warnings over the UK and US economies shook fragile market sentiment.

Media giant Daily Mail and General Trust today said its UK titles had been hit by an “unprecedented” advertising slowdown as it revealed a 47% slump in half-year group profits.

The FTSE 100 Index is heading for its biggest shake up since the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks as companies feel the force of the global credit crunch.

Financial stocks were under more pressure today as uncertainty over the extent of the credit crisis continued to cloud world markets.

Media group Daily Mail & General Trust today suggested fears over the impact of the credit crisis on advertising revenues were unfounded as it reported further growth across its titles.

IRISH advertising publication Buy and Sell has been sold for €20 million to Naldin, a company connected to Irish investment vehicle Boundary Group, which is headed by Niall McFadden.

THE Daily Mail and General Trust has said circulation figures for the Irish edition of its Mail on Sunday publication are very encouraging, despite underwhelming consumer support for its daily edition here.

Mining stocks dragged the FTSE 100 back below 6100 today as oil and copper prices fell and investors looked to cash in on their recent rally.

The London market started the month on a positive note today as stocks in mining and oil companies helped it close above the 6000 threshold.

UK residential property website Rightmove fired the starting gun on a stock market flotation today.

A pre-Christmas boost for retailers helped power an upbeat performance by the FTSE 100 Index today.

Only 13 blue-chip stocks made it into positive territory today as the FTSE 100 Index tumbled on the back of softening oil and copper prices.

Catering giant Compass led the FTSE 100 Index tentatively forward today after the London market shrugged off early losses by banking and oil stocks.

The sale of Friends Reunited for more than £120m (€177.4m) appeared to move a step closer today after a report said broadcaster ITV was near to a takeover deal.

NEWSPAPER publisher Trinity Mirror has joined the bidding for website operator Friends Reunited.

The FTSE 100 Index moved closer to a new four-year high today after gains by stocks such as takeover target Scottish Power lifted spirits.

Associated Newspapers unveiled plans today for a new print plant that will allow it to produce every page of its Mail titles in full colour.

Drinks firms helped lift spirits on the London market today as investors warmed to the prospect of a possible bidding war for Allied Domecq.

London shares wrapped up a fifth consecutive session of gains today as the festive fervour showed no signs of slackening.

Classic FM owner GWR and Capital Radio are to merge in a deal creating a company with a 36% share of the UK commercial radio audience.

BRITISH commercial radio giants GWR and Capital Radio were yesterday reported to be in advanced merger talks.

A German publisher is planning to joint the list of bidders for the Telegraph, according to German press reports.

Daily Mail and General Trust announced today that it has successfully bid £43m (€64.2m) for the Sydney FM radio licence auctioned by the Australian government, and has already paid 10% in cash.

Express group owner Richard Desmond is believed to have withdrawn a bid for the Telegraph Group, according to industry sources.

Worries about the potential for a drawn out war in Iraq weighed heavily on the London market today as blue-chip shares took a pounding.

London’s leading shares nosed back into positive territory today, ending a run of five straight sessions in the red.

LONDON’S blue-chip index slumped almost 100 points yesterday as worried investors put back nearly all of the previous session’s gains.

Retail stocks emerged from a hectic week on the front foot today as the FTSE 100 Index climbed back towards the key 4,000 barrier.

LONDON shares drifted lower yesterday as lethargy gripped the City despite a busy day for corporate updates.

LONDON shares dived yesterday as a gloomy forecast

Online directory business Scoot.com is on the verge of being bought by British Telecom.

The FTSE 100 Index has slid past the 5,200 barrier as technology and media stocks pulled the London market lower.

The FTSE 100 Index has lifted 20.2 points to 5156.5 after a healthy finish on Wall Street last night.

A positive start to trading on Wall Street has helped drive London shares upwards.