Software group Torex Retail suspended its shares today just a week after issuing an update boasting of “significant” new business wins.

British high-street banking group HBOS and Scottish tycoon Tom Hunter were today being tipped to make another attempt to land housebuilder Crest Nicholson.

Icelandic group Baugur was today thought to be behind a bid for House of Fraser after the department store chain revealed it had received a “very preliminary” approach.