The FTSE 100 Index surged 1.4% today as investors were cheered by decent economic news and corporate results from across the Atlantic.

The new owner of Friends Provident announced a sharp rise in profits at the life assurer today but said tough trading conditions in the UK reinforced the case for more deals in the sector.

The London market was dragged into the red today as financial stocks foundered on concerns over the banking sector.

British life insurer Friends Provident today recommended a £1.86bn (€2.16bn) takeover offer by investment firm Resolution.

The London market extended its winning streak to an eleventh day today after a late climb into the black.

The rally on the London market hit a new five-and-a-half-year high today as the FTSE 100 Index closed up for the eighth session in a row.

The London market’s best run of the year continued today after the FTSE 100 Index added another 1.5% in a strong start to the week.

London’s FTSE 100 Index secured its fifth day of gains today as blue chip stocks including British Airways drove the market higher.

London's blue chip share index staged a late session rally today as optimism on Wall Street added to investor cheer over a potential takeover of Friends Provident.

A division of Barclays which pays pensions to more than 70,000 policyholders a month was today said to be the subject of takeover interest.

Bradford & Bingley today said it rejected plans put forward by investment group Resolution to pump £400m (€505m) into the embattled UK mortgage lender.

Private equity firm JC Flowers today threatened to walk away from its £3.5bn (€4.3bn) takeover approach for Friends Provident unless the board of the life and pensions firm opens talks by the end of the week.

US private equity firm JC Flowers today insisted its £3.5bn (€2.22bn) proposal to take over British financial services firm Friends Provident was "attractive" as it stepped up its battle to gain the board's backing for the bid.

The Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup is to once again come under the microscope tonight with Higher Education GAA chiefs set to convene for a hastily-arranged meeting at Croke Park.

British life insurer Friends Provident could be put up for sale after a wholesale review of the business, it was reported today.

The boss of British life insurer Friends Provident stepped down today following his firm’s failure to complete a £8.6bn (€12.19bn) merger with Resolution.

Investors returned to banking stocks today as the London market ended a three-day losing streak.

Standard Life shares staged a relief rally today on news of its withdrawal from the bidding battle for closed life insurance firm Resolution.

Rio Tinto shares put on another 8% today as traders continued to eye the possibility of a multi-billion pound takeover by BHP Billiton.

Renewed hopes of interest rate cuts in the US lent strength to the London market today as the FTSE 100 Index gained more than 1%.

Standard Life’s £4.9bn (€7bn) bid to land insurer Resolution was dealt a major blow today after the firm’s largest shareholder stepped in with a higher offer on a dramatic day in the City.

UK insurer Resolution today tore up its plans for a merger with Friends Provident after agreeing a £4.9bn (€6.9bn) offer from rival Standard Life.

A bullish set of half-year results buoyed Argos owner Home Retail Group today, providing a lift to other firms in the retail sector.

British insurance group Standard Life confirmed today it is looking at gatecrashing the £8bn (€11.4bn) merger of Resolution and Friends Provident.

Life insurer Friends Provident today warned it would take longer than expected to achieve profits targets after a cooling housing market hit its mortgage protection business.

Blue-chip takeover activity and a flurry of broker notes helped limit falls on London’s leading share index today.

Life insurance firm Pearl Group could muscle in on an £8.6bn (€12.7bn) merger between rivals Resolution and Friends Provident, it was reported today.

LIFE insurance firm Pearl Group could muscle in on an £8.6 billion merger between rivals Resolution and Friends Provident.

Friends Provident wrote a new chapter in its 175-year history today after unveiling an £8.6bn (€12.8bn) merger deal to create a “significant” new force in the British insurance industry.

Insurance companies Friends Provident and Resolution have agreed to join forces after unveiling the terms of an £8.6bn (€12bn) merger today.

Two of the UK's biggest life insurers - Friends Provident and Resolution - today confirmed they were in talks over a possible £8.3bn (€12.35m) merger.

The London market staged a rally in afternoon trading today, recouping some of its losses from earlier in the session following falls in China overnight.

London’s blue-chips were down more than 1% today as concerns over the Chinese stock market sparked a sell-off.

Several high-profile stocks were on the front foot today buoyed by bid speculation and a series of positive broker upgrades.

Resolution, the UK’s biggest manager of closed life insurance funds, today unveiled better-than-expected full-year results as it provided some welcome news for investors left disappointed when recent takeover talks were called off.

Fresh takeover talk in the retail sector lifted B&Q owner Kingfisher by more than 2% today, while Alliance Boots was also on the up following developments in its buyout saga.

The London market kept hold of gains from its previous session today as investors appeared determined to recoup recent falls.

A manager of closed life assurance funds moved in on a place in the FTSE 100 Index after striking a £3.6bn (€5.2bn) deal with Abbey National today.

Resolution Life is planning the biggest rights issue in the City for four years to finance the £3.5bn (€5.1bn) purchase of Abbey National’s life insurance business, it was reported today.

Investors in blue-chip stocks were today treated to the sight of the FTSE 100 Index breaking through the 6100 threshold for the first time in more than five years.