Fears of an end to the recent rally in banking shares were allayed today following further gains for Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays.

Market doubts were growing today over the terms of Lloyds TSB’s planned takeover of struggling Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS).

A turbulent session for world markets left the FTSE 100 Index at its lowest level for more than three years tonight.

Rattled investors gave Vodafone a stock market hammering today after the mobile phone giant warned of revenues at the bottom end of hopes.

The collapse in UK housebuilding activity contributed to a profits warning by the world’s biggest brickmaker today.

Shares in British Airways fell sharply today as City gloom deepened over the airline’s trading outlook.

HSBC bucked the squeeze in the mortgage market today by offering to match homeowners’ existing fixed-rate deals.

BRITISH investment bank Collins Stewart is to buy struggling lender International Securities Trading Corporation (ISTC) in a €5 million rescue deal.

Standard Life’s £4.9bn (€7bn) bid to land insurer Resolution was dealt a major blow today after the firm’s largest shareholder stepped in with a higher offer on a dramatic day in the City.

UK insurer Resolution today tore up its plans for a merger with Friends Provident after agreeing a £4.9bn (€6.9bn) offer from rival Standard Life.

British-based financial services company Prudential's domestic business remained under pressure today after third quarter sales lagged behind its operations elsewhere in the world.

Northern Rock's share price fell by around 20% today as analysts said current shareholders could lose out if Virgin's plans to pump cash into the group and rebrand the business went ahead.

Troubled British mortgage lender Northern Rock is today in talks over its future, including the possibility of a buyout.

Budget airline easyJet today said it carried 3.7 million passengers in August, up 17.8% on the same month last year.

The shockwaves resounding around world markets may have seen a host of corporate deals shelved, but the turmoil could yet be decisive in the outcome of the world’s biggest banking takeover.

Lloyds TSB today cheered shareholders with its first dividend hike for five years, as the bank posted a £2bn (€2.9bn) profits haul for the first half of 2007.

Attempts by Royal Bank of Scotland to lead a buy-out of ABN Amro were boosted today when a court blocked the Dutch bank’s sale of its US business LaSalle.

More than 23,000 banking jobs are under threat after Barclays announced details of its proposed £45bn (€66.36bn) takeover of Dutch counterpart ABN Amro.

Shares in consumer products giant Unilever were today testing eight-year highs amid a raft of takeover speculation surrounding the group.

London shares saw a sharp downturn during afternoon trading after lower-than-expected US retail sales figures led to a tumble in the US markets at the start of the day’s trade.

The UK benchmark index enjoyed a late rally today after benefiting from a strong surge in mining company shares.

A sharper-than-expected rise in the number of BSkyB customers leaving the satellite broadcaster took the shine off figures from the British group today.

Music giant EMI today sounded the alarm on jobs and profits, after it announced sales from new releases had failed to live up to expectations.

Shares in British Airways were boosted today after the airline reached agreement with its unions on plans to tackle a £2.1bn (€3.1bn) pensions deficit.

The London market took heart from buoyant retail figures in the US today, as healthy employment levels also boosted the world's biggest economy.

FINANCIAL services group Collins Stewart Europe Limited is to take over Hawkpoint Holdings Limited, an independent corporate finance advisory firms in Britain.

Debenhams prepared to list on the London stock market for the third time today after a spell away from the limelight proved profitable for owners and managers.

A good start on Wall Street and positive sentiment among mining stocks helped sustain gains on the London market today.

Sky-high oil prices were weighing on investors today and prevented the London market continuing this week’s upward trend.

The British government has given its blessing to the proposed takeover by Whitbread of Spirit Group’s Premier Lodge hotel chain.

BRITISH establishment newspaper The Daily Telegraph could soon be in the hands of a man who made his fortune from pornographic magazines, after an American court blocked a deal to sell control of the paper.

A City stockbroking firm was today circling the Telegraph Group after confirming it has made an offer thought to be worth up to £500m (€714m).

The editor of the Financial Times newspaper, Andrew Gowers, has said the paper stands behind its reporting of a legal dispute between British stockbroker Collins Stewart Tullett and former employee James Middleweek.