The London market tumbled into the red today as shares in drinks company Diageo lost more than 3% in value despite a solid set of results.

Bookmaker William Hill today said it won £17.5m (€25.6m) from punters betting on the football World Cup in Germany.

Outsourcing group Capita added more than £250 million to its market value today after strong half-year results lifted its share price by 9%.

Outsourcing group Capita surged to the top of the blue-chip risers board today after delighting UK investors with better-than-expected profits.

Gaming group Stanley Leisure today said gamblers in London and Italy had taken the shine off an impressive performance at its provincial casinos.

Investors were in nervous mood today ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on US interest rates later this week.

A rush of dealmaking activity stirred investors during a steady session for the London market today.

Stanley Leisure today reported a surge in visitors to its provincial casinos after the British government relaxed restrictions on gaming.

Bookmaker William Hill today said unfavourable horseracing results and the cancellation of fixtures had contributed to a mixed start to 2006.

Gaming group Stanley Leisure said today the number of people attending its casinos outside London had jumped by more than 15% since laws requiring gamblers to be members for 24 hours before attending venues were scrapped.

Gaming group Stanley Leisure was out of luck at its London casinos today following a dip in attendance levels and revenues.

Leisure group Hilton said today the London bombings had most affected confidence among its UK customers, but failed to deter foreign visitors.

Leisure group Hilton sounded a confident note about its future today despite first-half profits at its hotels in the UK and Ireland falling by more than a fifth.

Ladbrokes was today neck-and-neck with William Hill as the UK’s biggest bookmaker after buying 141 family-run betting shops.

Takeover talk swirling around internet bank Egg helped the FTSE 100 Index hit a fresh three-year high today.

The London market maintained its progress today after a positive conclusion to Friday’s session in New York.

Bookmaker William Hill today said it had been boosted by more sporting results going in its favour in recent weeks.

STANLEY LEISURE is to hand back €488m to shareholders after the sale of its chain of bookmaking shops to rival William Hill.

WILLIAM HILL will become Britain’s biggest chain of bookmakers today after the acquisition of Stanley Leisure’s 624-strong estate of betting shops was approved yesterday.

BOOKMAKER Stanley Leisure will complete the sale of its chain of shops to William Hill over the weekend, following the approval of the deal by shareholders at yesterday’s extraordinary general meeting.

London shares started off in lacklustre form today as traders refused to commit their cash ahead of key unemployment data in the United States.

Graeme Evans

The FTSE 100 Index ended today below the key 4900 barrier as gloom in London persisted despite upbeat trading on Wall Street.

The London market made a lacklustre start to the week today as a deal by bookie William Hill to buy a chain of betting shops failed to cheer investors.

Bookies William Hill today said it had struck an agreement to buy 624 betting shops from rival Stanley Leisure in a deal worth £504m (€736.5m).

BOOKIES Boylesports saw profits rise by 627% last year to just under €600,000.

BETTING operator the Tote was said to be working on a deal aimed at scuppering William Hill’s chances of buying 600 betting shops from Stanley Leisure.

British betting operator Tote was today said to be working on a deal aimed at scuppering William Hill’s chances of buying 600 betting shops from Stanley Leisure.

The London market ended today in the red despite a rally in New York after better-than-expected earnings numbers.

Drinks giant Allied Domecq was leading London shares higher today as investors toasted a takeover by French group Pernod Ricard.

Ian Guider

Steelmaker Corus led a large fall in London shares today after the US market suffered its biggest one-day loss in two years.

William Hill said today it was in talks to buy around 600 betting shops from Stanley Leisure in a move set to create Britain’s biggest bookmaker.

William Hill was today reported to be in talks on a £500m (€732.2m)-plus deal that would see it leapfrog Ladbrokes to become Britain’s biggest bookmaker.

Gaming group Stanley Leisure today said it would consider tendering for all 24 new casinos permitted under a relaxation of UK gaming laws.

Bookmaker William Hill today said profits would be at the lower end of hopes after punters enjoyed a run of success in the second half of last year.

Gaming group Stanley Leisure today said a winning streak by a “major player” at its casinos had dented its profits.

Airlines lifted the London market today after no-frills carrier easyJet posted record profits and the oil price started to decline.

British casino operator Stanley Leisure has joined forces with a Malaysian firm in a bid to develop a network of Las Vegas-style sites, it emerged today.

Casino developers Stanley Leisure have purchased land adjacent to Leeds’ Elland Road ground in a deal worth £5m (€7.2m) to the beleaguered Yorkshire club.

Casino operator Stanley Leisure today unveiled plans to bring a slice of Las Vegas to Yorkshire in England in a move that could also create more than 1,000 jobs.

London shares failed to make up early losses today after a poor start to the week on Wall Street.

Shares in gaming groups took a tumble in the UK today after the British government announced tougher controls on gambling.