The London market was plunged into negative territory by mid-morning today as results from mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley caused misery for financial stocks.

Reckitt Benckiser said strong growth from recently-acquired brands Nurofen and Strepsils helped it deliver a 15% rise in full-year profits today.

UK household goods firm Reckitt Benckiser is expanding its healthcare operations in North America after today agreeing a £1.1bn (€1.5bn) takeover of a US cough mixture firm.

Healthcare brands including Listerine and Nicorette were today sold to Johnson & Johnson in a deal worth $16.6bn US dollars (€13.2bn).

Around 100,000 Boots shareholders will have to stomach a dividend cut as part of life with merger partner Alliance UniChem, it was reported today.

Health and beauty chain Boots geared up for its merger with Alliance UniChem by posting annual profits slightly ahead of expectations today.

UK household cleaning goods company Reckitt Benckiser today said it was on course to hit its targets for 2006 after sales were boosted by products such as Vanish and Cillit Bang.

Household cleaning goods company Reckitt Benckiser forecast another strong year today as it posted record results driven by products such as Cillit Bang and Vanish.

The proposed merger of Boots and Alliance UniChem overcame a major hurdle today after regulators gave the deal provisional clearance.

Cable & Wireless topped off a torrid week on the London market with news that trading in the UK had deteriorated.

Telecoms giant Cable & Wireless added to the London market’s recent woes today after reporting a sharp slowdown in sales at its UK retail business.

Boots unveiled its second major deal of the week today after raising £1.93bn (€2.8bn) from the sale of its business making Nurofen and Strepsils.

British retailer Boots has lined up a shortlist of six in the £1.2bn auction of its Nurofen-to-Clearasil business, it was reported today.

Retailer Boots reported a fall in like-for-like sales today as it warned trading conditions were likely to remain tough in the coming months.

Boots shares surged today as speculation over takeover interest from private equity firms caused investors to look beyond the retailer’s trading woes.

The FTSE 100 Index closed at highest level since mid-March today as oil and mining stocks gushed higher.

Oil stocks were buoying the London market today as the FTSE 100 Index attempted to mark an end to the heavy losses of recent weeks.

Boots put its business making Nurofen and Strepsils up for sale today as part of the latest attempts at restructuring the health and beauty chain.

High street pharmacist Boots today said strong sales of health and beauty products had helped lift like-for-like sales by 4.6% in the first quarter.

High street pharmacist Boots today reported a 17% fall in annual pre-tax profits as restructuring costs, including exiting loss-making businesses, took their toll.