An American private equity group is considering a £1bn (€1.13bn) bid for UK nationalised lender Northern Rock, it was reported today.

A SIGNAL from the Health Service Executive (HSE) that it may hand over nursing and home care responsibilities to the private sector will serve to further destabilise and undermine the sector, a campaigning charity has warned.

The UK’s biggest care home operator responded to takeover speculation today by revealing it had received “general enquiries” from a number of parties.

The London market posted gains of almost 2% today as oil and commodity stocks fuelled a blue-chip rally.

Takeover talk in the mining and telecoms sectors provided a boost for London’s leading share index today.

The UK’s biggest care home group said today it had agreed fee increases averaging 5% on more than 85% of its beds this year.

Shares in Corus soared 5% today as investors sat back and enjoyed a dramatic bidding war for the Anglo-Dutch steel company.

BARCHESTER, the nursing home group owned by JP McManus and John Magnier, has abandoned a takeover bid for its smaller rival BetterCare.

The Australian government has announced it has sold a 99-year lease for Sydney airport, Australia’s largest, to an Australian-led consortium for (Aus) €5.5bn (€3.24bn).