Investors in the British banking sector were spared more misery today after Royal Bank of Scotland posted better-than-expected losses of £3.6bn (4.08bn) for 2009.

Gaming group Rank today hailed the growing appeal of its new-style casinos as it reported "encouraging" trading in a difficult climate.

The FTSE 100 Index lost ground today as gloom in the banking sector and more economic woes across the Atlantic rattled investors.

Banking stocks suffered losses of more than 2% today as analysts downgraded price targets in the wake of full-year results earlier in the week.

Gaming group Rank today braced investors for another tough year despite signs of improved trading at its Mecca Bingo clubs.

Mecca Bingo owner Rank deepened the pain for shareholders today after announcing it would not pay a dividend for its 2007 performance.

Blue chips were back on a tentative road to recovery today as the London market enjoyed its second day of gains, buoyed by hopes of a US interest rate cut.

London’s blue chips were on the front foot today after a rally in US markets lifted investor sentiment on this side of the Atlantic.

Updates and results from Curry’s owner DSG International and property website Rightmove will bring the impact of recent interest rate hikes back into focus this week.

UK leisure group Rank today offered further evidence that its Mecca bingo clubs in Scotland were being affected by the smoking ban north of the border.

Renewed bid speculation involving energy giant Centrica excited traders during an otherwise lacklustre end to the week for the London market.

Mecca Bingo and Hard Rock Café owner Rank posted a 3% fall in profits today as the smoking ban in Scotland took its toll.

One of the UK’s biggest bingo chains today said revenues had fallen 14% in Scotland following the introduction of a smoking ban.

Stanley Leisure today reported a surge in visitors to its provincial casinos after the British government relaxed restrictions on gaming.

Signs that retailers enjoyed a better-than-expected Christmas season helped push the FTSE 100 Index to a fresh four-year high today.

The owner of cosmetics giant Revlon was today linked to a possible bid for the Deluxe film services business being sold by UK group Rank for an estimated €677m.

Leisure group Rank prepared today to bring the curtain down on a 60-year relationship with the film industry by announcing the separation of its Deluxe unit.

Leisure group Rank today said it may spin-off its film and media division after reporting sharply lower profits during a “challenging” first half.