One of the bidders vying to buy 315 branches from Royal Bank of Scotland today insisted its £1.5bn (€1.75bn) plan will pave the way for a “strong challenger bank”.

A Dublin businessman has today lost a legal challenge to a finding by a Revenue official that he and his wife engaged in a tax avoidance scheme.

Banking stocks led strong gains on the London market today as optimism surrounding the global economic outlook strengthened.

London’s leading index closed higher for a third day running as investors shrugged off fears of a slowdown in the euro region.

London’s blue chip index slumped to a three-month low today after being dogged by fresh fears that Greece would default on its debts.

Supermarket giant Tesco today said Sir Richard Broadbent will take on one of the biggest roles in UK business when he replaces David Reid as chairman in November.

The FTSE 100 Index bounced back from six straight sessions in the red today as world markets regained their poise.

Libya’s ongoing crisis sent the London market into the red today as oil prices continued to surge.

Commodity and banking stocks briefly pushed the FTSE 100 Index past the 5900 mark today before it slipped back again.

The FTSE 100 Index finished slightly down today as speculation over a Chinese interest rate rise dented shares in miners.

London’s FTSE 100 Index made further advances today thanks to a raft of well-received updates from the likes of Barclays and Schroders.

Royal Dutch Shell was among those making share gains on the FTSE 100 Index today in a buoyant session for commodity stocks.

The London market closed lower today as investors feared US Federal Reserve plans to inject more cash into the economy may fall short of expectations.

Hopes for further economy-boosting measures from the US Federal Reserve mounted today, sending the London market higher.

The FTSE 100 slipped into the red today as a surprise rise in US benefit claims took the gloss off decent half-year profits from insurer Aviva.

IRISH companies are attractively valued and set to benefit from an improving economic backdrop, according to a fund manager at global asset managers Schroders.

The FTSE 100 Index plunged again today as debt-laden Greece agreed a rescue deal to avert national bankruptcy.

The FTSE 100 Index enjoyed a buoyant beginning to the week today with utility firms in the takeover spotlight.

Energy and banking firms were out of favour with investors today as the London market slid lower.

US buy-out firm Carlyle today confirmed it had approached UK waste management group Shanks with a potential takeover offer.

The FTSE 100 Index pushed to a fresh 13-month high today as investors were cheered by strong results from a raft of US companies.

Downbeat housing market data from the US sent London stocks into reverse today in a nervous session for the FTSE 100 Index.

The FTSE 100 Index returned to winning ways today after a bumper session for corporate results fuelled the market’s new-found confidence.

Disappointing economic readings in the US sent London's FTSE 100 Index into the red today after a poor final session of the second quarter.

Further gloomy economic news from the US sent the FTSE 100 Index into negative territory today amid signs the word's biggest economy is far from recovery.

A shock profit warning from Lloyds Banking Group for its HBOS arm sent the stock plummeting today and dragged the banking sector deep into the red once more.

The FTSE 100 Index pushed ahead today as better-than-expected overseas news cheered investors.

UK blue chips were lent some Christmas cheer today as commodities boosted London's leading share index despite further dire news from the retail sector.

The London market bounced back from Friday’s five-year low in spectacular fashion today.

London’s FTSE 100 Index today slumped almost 9% to cap the worst week for blue chip shares since “Black Monday” in 1987.

A stiff hike in oil prices cast a cloud over the London market today as they helped wipe out some solid gains enjoyed during earlier trading.

A further sharp slide in oil prices helped power the London market to a positive close today as travel firms and airlines soared on the lower cost of crude.

London’s blue chip shares retreated into the red today as stocks were hit by bad housing market news on both sides of the Atlantic.

The FTSE 100 Index finished the week above the 6000 mark today as the world's biggest bank gave a boost to the market.

Takeover speculation and a quarter point cut in interest rates failed to lift the FTSE 100 Index out of the red today.

The FTSE 100 Index broke through the 5900 barrier for the first time in over a month today as banking giants enjoyed a second day of strong gains.

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

Optimism ahead of results from the banking sector and a surprise rise in house prices helped the FTSE 100 Index surge by nearly 3% today.

Fears over the state of the US economy resurfaced to derail a solid session for the London market today.

London’s FTSE 100 Index slipped into the red today after fresh fears over the US economy affected trading on both sides of the Atlantic.

The FTSE 100 Index jumped nearly 3% today after an emergency interest rate cut in the US buoyed investors.

The London market closed below the 6,000 barrier for the third session in a row today as heightened volatility kept stocks in negative territory.

The FTSE 100 Index lost ground today after a nervous start in US markets unsettled London’s blue chips.

UK blue chips suffered losses on the London market today as investors rushed to bank profits made yesterday in the mining sector.