A controversial bonus scheme which could net five senior directors of banking giant HSBC more than £120m (€152m) over the next three years received substantially less than unanimous backing from shareholders today.

Cable & Wireless courted further controversy over executive pay today as it proposed scrapping the £20m cap on individual bonus payouts.

Troubled UK catering giant Compass today faced opposition to a pay overhaul due to come into force ahead of the appointment of a new chief executive.

BSkyB bettered expectations today after revealing it added 62,000 subscribers in the three months to the end of September.

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is facing an investor rebellion over a pay settlement for ousted chairman Peter Davis, it was reported today.

Tesco today emerged as a winner in the latest UK price war in the supermarket sector after reporting a 7.8% rise in like-for-like sales.

The prospect of a fresh revolt over “fat cat” pay receded today after a major investor group pledged to support a deal for ITV boss Charles Allen worth £24m (€36.3m) over four years.

GlaxoSmithKline boss Jean-Pierre Garnier is reported to have become the highest paid FTSE 100 executive.