The London market was on the back foot for the first time in a week today as investors took fright at weakness in the media and manufacturing sectors.

ULSTER Television has launched a €130 million bid for The Wireless Group, which runs Britain’s largest commercial talk radio station.

A string of companies going ex-dividend today left the London market struggling to move above the key 4900 mark.

Fresh takeover talk surrounding Allied Domecq failed to keep the FTSE 100 Index in the black today.

Drinks group Allied Domecq topped the list of blue-chip risers in London today after talk of possible bid interest sent its shares up by almost 3%.

Last month’s Euro 2004 football tournament helped UK radio station talkSPORT chalk up an 87% increase in revenues, its owner said today.