British housebuilders received a Budget boost today after Chancellor George Osborne delivered a raft of measures to help Britons get on the housing ladder.

Rolls-Royce shares were 2% lower today as investors faced up to more details of the bribery claims relating to contracts in Indonesia.

Two of Britain’s biggest pub chains will reveal this week whether April’s washout weather hit sales, while bakers chain Greggs will be quizzed about how it plans to deal with the so-called pasty tax.

Sandwich chain Subway is planning a huge expansion in Britain and Ireland.

Moves across Europe to bolster the region’s banks and economies sparked a second day of strong gains for shares in London.

The stock exchanges in both London and New York staged a modest recoveries today after four days of heavy losses on hopes of action tonight to boost the US economy.

Ugly scenes of violence, rioting and looting have spread across England since erupting three days ago.

The FTSE 100 Index slumped by as much as 5% at one stage today as the panic-selling sweeping London’s financial markets intensified.

The FTSE 100 Index bounced back from six straight sessions in the red today as world markets regained their poise.

Nervous investors went in search of cheap-looking stocks today as the London market showed tentative signs of recovery following a turbulent week.

BRITAIN’S biggest bakery chain, Greggs, said it is still looking for opportunities in Ireland.

GREGGS, Britain’s biggest bakery chain, is looking to expand into the Irish market.

TUI Travel led London’s blue chip share index into the red today as stocks suffered in cautious trading ahead of key forecasts from UK and US central banks.

The London market narrowly held on to Wednesday's 21-month high today despite falls for banks and miners as investors looked to take profits.

There were mixed emotions for investors today as the decade concluded with the FTSE 100 Index registering its best annual performance since 1997.

Barclays and Sainsbury’s grabbed the spotlight in a lacklustre session today after Qatari investors cashed in £1.3bn (€1.4bn) of share options in the bank.

The London market was given a late session boost from the US today, but the lift was not enough to save Royal Bank of Scotland from plunging into the red.

The six-day rally on the FTSE 100 Index was brought to an abrupt end today as falling commodity stocks put pressure on miners and oil majors.

Investors shrugged off fresh economic gloom today as the FTSE 100 Index built on yesterday’s 6% surge with further gains.

The London market took a late dive into the red today as opening nerves on Wall Street undermined blue-chip stocks.

HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland continued to recover lost ground today as the FTSE steadied after the global moves to tackle the financial crisis.

UK bakery chain Greggs today blamed weather-hit sales and rising costs for its decision to cut £3m (€3.8m) from full-year profit forecasts.

High street British baker Greggs today shrugged off the impact of soaring raw material costs to deliver a 12% hike in underlying pre-tax profits to £49m (€64m).

High street baker Greggs said today it was coping with record prices of wheat and other ingredients as it posted 5.6% sales growth over Christmas.

Further signs of gloom on the UK high street emerged today with a report showing the number of retailers reporting downbeat trading hit its highest level in two years in the last three months of 2007.

Signs of a revival in merger and acquisition activity helped the FTSE 100 Index power above the 6600 barrier today.

Bakery chain Greggs today said favourable weather conditions helped drive an increase in sales over the last three months.

The London market staged a rally today as investors shrugged off recent economic concerns to pick up bargains following the recent heavy losses.

British bakery chain Greggs today said it endured its toughest trading conditions for more than a decade last year after full year profits fell 13% to £43.7m (€64.5m).

A disappointing update from British Airways left investors in subdued mood today as the London market struggled for direction.

London’s top stocks climbed back on track today following the shock interest rate rise yesterday, but strong profits from British Airways failed to lure investors.

Investors lost their appetite for Greggs shares today after the high street baker warned it faced a difficult year.

Marks & Spencer dominated trading in London today after posting a surprise pick-up in sales and announcing the departure of the creator of its Per Una range.

Marks & Spencer shares were testing the 400p barrier today as investors welcomed strong signs of a revival at the high street retailer.

A wave of profit taking pushed the London market into negative territory today and away from another three-year high.

Healthy gains by mining stocks were not enough to prevent the London market starting the week in lacklustre form today.

British bakery group Greggs today forecast further price increases as it looks to cope with higher overheads, including rising wage and energy bills.

Disappointing jobs data from across the Atlantic sent London shares into freefall today.

Positive sentiment that drove the FTSE 100 Index to an 11-day winning streak evaporated today as investors suffered a bad case of the January blues.

London’s leading shares staged a late rally as positive corporate news in the US boosted hopes of economic recovery.

The Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates failed to keep investors happy today as the benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell back into negative territory.

The FTSE-100 Index is on the back foot today after another profits warning in the US dented confidence on this side of the Atlantic.