BELEAGUERED Vodafone shareholders were eyeing a potential £5 billion pay-day from the mobile phone company’s under-pressure chief executive.

Beleaguered Vodafone shareholders were today eyeing a potential £5bn (€7.3bn) pay-day from the mobile phone company’s under-pressure chief executive.

Lloyds TSB and advertising giant WPP set a blistering pace today during a strong end to the week for London’s leading shares.

The online gambling performance of bookmaker Ladbrokes left it in bullish mood today as the former Hilton company marked its first day as a standalone business.

The London market suffered a sharp sell-off this afternoon in spite of bid speculation adding more than £1 billion to the value of British Gas owner Centrica.

Potential bidders circling the Ladbrokes betting shop chain were today told their offers undervalued the long-term prospects of the business.

Record profits of £12.9bn (€19bn) from Royal Dutch Shell proved insufficient to send shares in the oil giant into positive territory today.

Profit-takers caused the London market to fall back today, yet failed to lessen the shine of a better-than-expected year for the FTSE 100 Index.

The London market suffered from some heavy end-of-year selling today after yesterday’s four-and-a-half year high.

The London market continued its good run today as mining and leisure stocks lifted the FTSE 100 Index to a fresh four-and-a-half year high.

A five-year high for Tokyo’s Nikkei index brought some sparkle to trading in London today as shares continued to push away from the 5600 barrier.

A £3.6bn (€5.2bn) deal to reunite ownership of the Hilton hotels brand looked set to be completed today.

The FTSE 100 Index edged towards the 5600 mark today in the last full trading session ahead of Christmas.

Hilton Group confirmed today it had received “expressions of interest” from firms considering a £3bn (€4.4bn) punt on betting shop chain Ladbrokes.

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

Positive news for some of the UK’s biggest retailers helped the FTSE 100 Index edge further above the 5500 mark today.

Mobile giant Vodafone held back progress by the FTSE 100 Index today as investors gave a lukewarm response to acquisition news.

The FTSE 100 crashed through the 5500 barrier today as hopes of a prolonged rally in the run-up to Christmas rose in the City.

Takeover activity helped lift the mood on the London market today as plasterboard maker BPB ditched its opposition to being bought by a French rival.

A busy session for corporate activity today revitalised the FTSE 100 Index and eased concerns that its recent rally had run its course.

Surging oil and mining stocks put some gloss on an otherwise lacklustre session for the London market today.

A recovery in heavyweight oil and mining stocks saw the Footsie edge forward today after losses last week.

Investors were checking into the hotels sector today after Hilton Group confirmed talks were underway over a multi-billion pound deal.

Plans to reunite the Hilton brand under one owner were revealed today after an approach for the UK hotels business thought to be worth £3.6bn (€5.2bn).

Poker group PartyGaming led the FTSE 100 Index into negative territory today as investors piled out of online gaming stocks.

The feelgood factor was in evidence again in London today as the FTSE 100 Index edged towards a key milestone.

Rentokil Initial led the FTSE 100 Index to a positive finish today after news of a possible takeover offer sent its shares surging.

A string of upbeat corporate announcements today helped the FTSE 100 Index to begin one of the busiest weeks in the trading calendar in the black.

A BATTLE is unfolding in courts across Europe for control of the multi-billion-euro gambling market, pitting gaming companies against governments anxious to safeguard revenues from national lotteries.

The FTSE 100 Index finished today back above the 5200 level as investors adopted a defiant mood after yesterday’s London bombings.

A buoyant performance by telecoms stocks ensured the FTSE 100 Index held on to early gains today to wrap up a positive end to the week.

Fresh takeover talk surrounding Allied Domecq failed to keep the FTSE 100 Index in the black today.

The FTSE 100 Index closed at the 5000 barrier for the first time since 2002 today as Dulux owner ICI added the gloss to a positive day for blue-chip stocks.

BOOKMAKING giant Ladbrokes’ Irish operations saw pre-tax profits soar 33% to €4.96 million last year, even though its Irish customers had a luckier time.

The London market failed to find enough momentum to end the week on a high note today as the weak US dollar dampened spirits.

Hopes of a sustained rally by London shares disappeared today as concerns over the strength of the United States economy returned to haunt investors.

London shares drove beyond the 4800 barrier today as a slowdown in retail sales offered a further signal that interest rates may have peaked.

The FTSE 100 Index shrank back from the 4600 barrier today as it failed to recover from the early shock of a profits warning from Unilever.

London shares extended their winning streak to a fourth session today as investors turned their eyes towards the key 4600 barrier.

Gains in Asia helped to point the London market in the right direction today ahead of a public holiday on Wall Street.

London shares were on the march for the sixth consecutive session today as oil prices continued to pull back from record highs.

The FTSE 100 Index approached levels not seen since early July today as lower oil prices and a strong finish on Wall Street boosted London shares.

Morale among investors in London continued to improve today as the FTSE 100 Index registered its fifth session of gains in a row.

The London market held its own above the key 4400 support level today despite a weak start on Wall Street.