Eircom Group’s advisers have approached some of Europe’s largest private-equity firms as Ireland’s former phone monopoly weighs a sale or a return to the stock market, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Eircom hasn’t ruled out the possibility of being acquired in a trade sale, saying it remains open-minded regarding its future strategic options.

A decision on the future of Ulster Bank will be made within three weeks, according to the UK chancellor George Osborne.

Royal Bank of Scotland could create an internal bad bank to house more of its problem loans, even if Britain decides not to enforce a breakup of the part-nationalised lender, banking industry and political sources say.

The Treasury in England will rule on whether to split Royal Bank of Scotland into a “good” and “bad” bank shortly after the Conservative Party conference, according to a report.

The costs and complexities of carving Royal Bank of Scotland into a good and bad bank would likely leave British taxpayers worse off and exceed any benefits, according to an influential ratings agency.

The world’s biggest state- backed funds are joining the Great Rotation portfolio switch out of bonds into equities, a move that risks crowding the trade and lessening the allure.

British Business Secretary Vince Cable has cooled expectations over Royal Bank of Scotland’s return to private ownership by signalling it may be in public hands for another five years.

The Government will not adopt a financial transaction tax if the UK stays out, writes Ann Cahill

A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious, but it cannot survive treason from within.

Today Ireland will be under pressure to say yes to the idea of raising at least €534 million a year from the financial services industry.

Retailer Game admitted it is in danger of collapse today after several suppliers refused to provide it with new products.

Embattled computer games retailer Game has put itself up for sale in a last-ditch bid to stave off financial collapse.

The Central Bank forked out almost €30m last year for advice on the winding down of Anglo and the restructuring of the banking system.

Britax Childcare, the maker of child car seats and pushchairs, is to be put up for sale in a move that could fetch £350m, reports said today.

IA wealthy Indian businessman has emerged as a possible buyer for Blackburn.

Legislation to nationalise Northern Rock passes to the House of Lords today, after it was rushed through all its Commons stages in a single day.

UK pet accessories chain Pets at Home today said it was considering plans for a possible float or trade sale of the business.

The board of Trinity Mirror, one of the UK's largest newspaper publisher, met today to discuss a review of its business which could lead to the sale of its national or regional newspaper titles.

Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnusson has stepped up his bid to take over West Ham by submitting an improved offer to the club's directors.

UK advertising firm Maiden today said it was examining its future options after a string of setbacks put it in breach of its banking covenants.

BANK OF IRELAND’S asset management arm has suffered a €16 billion meltdown as key North American clients stripped it of business on the back of a poor investment performance.

BANK OF IRELAND’S asset management arm has lost almost 60% of its crucial North American business in just 12 months, new figures show.

THE world’s largest wine company, Constellation Brands, said yesterday it was considering a possible counter bid for Allied Domecq , which agreed to be taken over by Pernod Ricard last week.

MALCOLM GLAZER could try to rip up the Premier League’s collective bargaining agreement if he succeeds in his attempt to takeover Manchester United.

BRISTOL & WEST (B&W), the underperforming former building society taken over by Bank of Ireland in 1997, is in the firing line after chief executive Brian Goggin pledged a crackdown on costs yesterday.

David de Rothschild, who runs the Rothschild banking business in France, is to take over the running of the family-held banking empire from his cousin this month as the firm unites its French and British arms in a single entity.

The FTSE 100 Index is down 16.5 at 4599.1 after an hour's trading.