Children will be pretending to be Mods, poking virtual monsters in the eye, and boxing their family this Christmas, according to one of the world’s largest toy shops.

A private equity firm is plotting a bid for Mothercare in a move that would end the UK retailer’s 40 years as a publicly listed company, reports said today.

Frozen food supermarket Iceland and toy emporium Hamleys are to be sold by failed Icelandic bank Landsbanki, according to reports today.

Gift Voucher Shop (GVS), the company behind the multi-store One4all Gift Card and Voucher, has announced the addition of Hamleys Toy Shop, Next and Gamestop to its retail portfolio.

Sarah Jessica Parker feels “old and tired”.

House of Fraser and other well-known UK retailers could be part owned by the Icelandic government under plans to reform the country’s failed financial system, it was reported today.

The Icelandic investment group that owns a host of retailers including Hamleys today denied it was looking at placing its UK business into administration.

The Icelandic government was today reported to be in crisis talks with the country's central bank over moves to prop up the banking sector.

JUST in time for the Christmas market, the celebrated London toy store, Hamleys is to open an Irish branch at Dundrum Town Centre.

House of Fraser today said it was ready to roll out a host of brands across its revamped department stores, despite facing “difficult” trading conditions.

This year's 'Big Brother' contestants will today spend their first full day in the house.

Icelandic investment group Baugur today dropped its bid for struggling men’s fashion chain Moss Bros.

Icelandic investment group Baugur is understood to be considering launching a £40m (€55m) takeover bid for retailer Moss Bros.

Toy shop Hamleys looks to be nearing a deal which could see it open its first store in India, according to reports today.

Excitement over a possible Icelandic bid for Moss Bros caused shares in the menswear retailer to jump by 15% today.

The new owner of UK department store House of Fraser today promised a shake-up for Britain’s “boring” high street after buying the chain for £351m (€522.3m) this week.

Matalan boss John King was named chief executive of House of Fraser today after the department store chain changed hands in a £351m (€523.4m) deal.

Entrepreneur Gerald Ratner’s interest in buying the Ernest Jones and H Samuel jewellery businesses was under pressure from a familiar quarter today.

Department store chain House of Fraser today said its sales performance had been boosted by new store openings and the integration of the Jenners and Beatties department stores into the business.

Department store chain House of Fraser today looked set to join the Baugur portfolio after reportedly backing a £356m (€519.2m) takeover approach.

By Nicky Burridge

Icelandic group Baugur was today thought to be behind a bid for House of Fraser after the department store chain revealed it had received a “very preliminary” approach.

Icelandic group Baugur was today unmasked as the investor behind the dawn raid on House of Fraser which sent shares in the department store group soaring to an eight-year high.

SUPERQUINN deputy chairman Eamonn Quinn has left the supermarket chain after its €450 million takeover by Select Retail Holdings was formally completed yesterday.

British fashion chain Jane Norman was today sold for £117.4m (€170.4m), in the latest deal involving the Icelandic investment group Baugur.

A key player in a consortium bidding for supermarket group Somerfield was today reported to be close to withdrawing from the fray.

An Icelandic investment group is building up a shareholding in struggling retailer Marks & Spencer, according to a report.

A takeover of British supermarket chain Somerfield moved closer today after the chain agreed to hold talks with potential bidders.

British supermarket chain Somerfield today said it had rejected a £1bn (€1.44bn) takeover approach from the acquisitive Iceland-based retail group Baugur.

SUPERQUINN chief executive designate Simon Burke has completed his whistle-stop tour of the group’s retail outlets, which were barely profitable last year.

Brian O’Mahony, Chief Business Correspondent

The owner of the Principles and Warehouse fashion chains is the latest company on the shopping list of Icelandic retail group Baugur, it was reported today.

A 34-year-old entrepreneur has scooped £12.5m (€18.2m) after selling the internet company he founded a decade ago, it emerged today.

The venture capital group circling retailer WH Smith today confirmed it was considering a second bid for the troubled high street giant.

Private equity firm Permira was today understood to be planning to offer a reduced £850m (€1.2bn) for British retailer WH Smith.

Shares in WH Smith slumped 4% today following the suspension of talks about a takeover by private equity group Permira.

British jewellery chain Goldsmiths was today reported to be in the sights of the Icelandic retail group Baugur.

TAKEOVER speculation surrounding WH Smith heightened yesterday amid reports the struggling retailer could be about to attract further bid interest.

Takeover speculation surrounding WH Smith heightened today amid reports the struggling retailer could be about to attract further bid interest.

Tim Waterstone, the entrepreneur who founded the bookstore chain, has bought children’s toys chain Early Learning Centre for £62 million, it was reported today.

BROWN THOMAS owner Galen Weston is closer to completing his £598 million bid for department store group Selfridges after receiving more acceptances from shareholders.

The FTSE 100 Index managed to end the day above the 4000 mark today, shaking off downward momentum from across the Atlantic.

London’s leading shares lost hold of early gains today, sinking back below the 4000 mark as nervousness set in ahead of US economic figures.

The FTSE 100 Index slid into negative territory today after disappointing economic data ahead of the close of trading dented share prices.