ROYAL Bank of Scotland Group, Britain’s second-largest bank, agreed to buy the Swiss private banking unit of HVB Group for 324.5 million, its second foreign acquisition move this week.

Leading shares remained firmer but off intraday highs in thin midday trading, tentatively clawing back some of yesterday's massive losses, although investors continued to tread warily in the wake of the apparent $4 bn (€4.06bn) fraud at WorldCom, dealers said.