Richard Branson's Virgin Group is today reportedly planning a sweetened bid for Northern Rock as the British government is poised to outline financial support for a private sale.

Gordon Brown delivered his strongest signal yet that stricken bank Northern Rock could face nationalisation.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown tonight delivered his strongest signal yet that stricken bank Northern Rock could face nationalisation.

Rebel shareholders in beleaguered British mortgage lender Northern Rock were today frustrated in their bid to gain a greater say in the future of the firm.

UK Chancellor Alistair Darling suffered fresh attacks over his handling of the Northern Rock crisis today amid speculation that the crippled lender faces imminent nationalisation.

The board of beleaguered Northern Rock will attempt to fight off demands from shareholders for a greater say in the firm’s future at an extraordinary meeting this week amid speculation the bank could be renationalised within days.

Northern Rock said today it has agreed to sell £2.2bn (€2.9bn) of its mortgage assets to a US investment bank.

A third major shareholder in crisis-hit lender Northern Rock today lent its backing to plans giving investors a bigger say over the future of the stricken firm.

Banking stocks ended the final full trading session of the year on the back foot today as fears over the sector’s fortunes sent shares down.

The board of Northern Rock is considering the possibility of an “in-house” rescue for the stricken bank, it was reported today.

The chairman of crisis-hit Northern Rock today urged investors to reject proposals from the lender’s two largest shareholders, saying they could hinder a rescue of the stricken business.

The battle for crisis-hit British bank Northern Rock looks set to intensify this week as a number of suitors re-table bids to rival the one put forward by Virgin, it was reported today.

Reassuring news from banking giant Barclays and stronger-than-expected early trading on Wall Street helped limit falls on the London market today.

Northern Rock’s biggest shareholder is today hoping for an improved offer for the lender after querying the value of the salvage bid led by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.

A consortium led by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is expected to be named today as preferred buyer for Northern Rock.

Richard Branson's Virgin and private equity firm JC Flowers are heading a shortlist of buyers for crisis-hit British mortgage lender Northern Rock, reports said today.

The biggest declared shareholder in Northern Rock today threatened to block any deal to restore stability to the troubled bank that would not deliver value for money for shareholders.

Shareholders of beleaguered Northern Rock were facing up to more heavy losses today after the company admitted rescue plans for the group were “materially below” the company’s current value.

Beleaguered mortgage lender Northern Rock’s shares surged nearly 25% today after a Monaco-based hedge fund built up a 4% stake in the business.