WEAK market conditions in the market hindered the first-half trading performance of healthcare retailer Boots, according to its parent company.

The former boss of rescued bank HBOS earned more than £2m (€2.28m) in pay and benefits for just nine months in his new job heading high street giant Alliance Boots, it emerged today.

Demand for anti-ageing creams today helped Alliance Boots report a surge in sales growth at its health and beauty arm.

BRITISH American Tobacco’s decision to appoint the former governor of the Bank of Ireland, Richard Burrows, as chairman of the world’s second largest cigarette manufacturer could get a hostile reception from the markets.

Speculation is mounting today that the British government may be preparing to increase its stake in the troubled Lloyds Banking Group, after Chancellor Alistair Darling declined to rule out the option of nationalisation.

Former bosses at bailed-out UK banks Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HBOS said they were "profoundly sorry" today and admitted they under-estimated the extent of the financial crisis.

The fight to push forward an alternative to the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS was stepped up today by a former bank chief who insists the current offer is “no longer the best deal”.

Two of Australia’s biggest banks are understood to be circling one of Halifax Bank of Scotland’s Australian businesses, it was reported today.

A resurgent FTSE 100 Index put last week’s turmoil behind it today as London’s leading shares soared to gains of more than 3%.

Plunging consumer confidence and a record fall in US house prices failed to derail a stock market fight-back from the UK’s biggest companies today.

Around 250 directors and senior staff of Halifax Bank of Scotland snapped up more than £6m (€7.7m) worth of the bank’s shares the day after last week’s dramatic price collapse.

Halifax Bank of Scotland shrugged off a £180m (€250m) credit-crunch blow today and said it was on track for a "good" full-year performance.

Halifax Bank of Scotland came under pressure today as the group’s faltering share of the new mortgage market overshadowed a 13% increase in profits.

Halifax Bank of Scotland today said it was on course to beat forecasts for annual earnings.

The first chief executive of merged financial giant Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) today announced plans to quit the group in the summer.

THE boss of the retail arm of banking group HBOS is to receive shares worth €3.2 million as part of a plan to persuade him to stay with the company, it was confirmed yesterday.

The boss of the retail arm of banking group HBOS is to receive shares worth £2.2m (€3.1m) as part of an incentive plan designed to persuade him to stay with the company, it was confirmed today.