The UK’s biggest housebuilder today warned of worsening market conditions as buyers are squeezed out by dearer mortgage deals.

Shares in consumer goods giant Unilever rose 4% today after it said it had been successful in passing on higher commodity costs.

Retail-to-broadband firm Carphone Warehouse today looked set to make its debut in the FTSE 100 Index of blue chip companies when the latest reshuffle takes place later this month.

London’s blue-chips struggled to make headway today as banking and mining stocks weighed on the market.

British housebuilding giants Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey warned today they expected “less buoyant” market conditions over the rest of this year.

Banking stocks were under pressure today after Halifax Bank of Scotland sparked concerns over difficult trading in its mortgages arm.

It was an eventful week for London’s leading shares after takeover activity propelled the FTSE 100 Index over the 6500 level on Monday for the first time since November 2000.

A surge in shares in Alliance Boots fuelled an advance for the London market today as investors jumped on the stock after a bidding war for the pharmacy and retail giant erupted in the City.

Several high-profile stocks were on the front foot today buoyed by bid speculation and a series of positive broker upgrades.

Takeover talk lifted several London stocks today although the bid rumours sweeping the market failed to lift the Footsie into positive territory.

Property stocks added some strength to the London market today after news of further consolidation in the housing sector buoyed shares.

Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey today unveiled merger plans to create the UK’s biggest housebuilder.

UK housebuilders George Wimpey and Taylor Woodrow are understood to be in talks over a £5bn (€7.4bn) merger in a deal that would catapult the new group into the FTSE 100 Index, reports reveal today.

Alliance & Leicester provided the London market with some much-needed cheer after shares in the banking group raced ahead today.

Traders were still in the festive spirit today as drinks firms helped boost stocks during an upbeat return following the Christmas break.

The London market surrendered its early gains today as losses at United Utilities took the shine off an impressive display at BT.

British housebuilder George Wimpey took the shine off an otherwise strong performance in the UK today by warning that it faced “very poor” conditions in the United States.

Further worrying signs from the United States economy rattled investors on both sides of the Atlantic today.

Investors endured a miserable start to the week after the FTSE 100 Index tumbled 1% on the back of worries over the weak US dollar today.

UK housebuilder Wilson Bowden today confirmed it had received takeover approaches from a number of parties.

Three leading house-building companies were today reported to be lining up offers as part of a £2bn (€2.95) auction of a rival UK operator.

Burberry handbags and Carphone Warehouse’s deal with AOL provided sparkle to an otherwise lacklustre market today which struggled to hold on to gains made at the start of the week.

UK housebuilder George Wimpey detailed the problems facing its US business today as it revealed a 35% fall in the value of its order book there.

The London market closed in the red today dragged down by heavily-weighted oil stocks following a mixed session in the City.

Lloyds TSB shares rose 1% today as investors took a punt on renewed speculation about a bid for the UK’s fifth largest banking group.

The Bank of England’s first move on interest rates in a year sent leading shares into freefall today as the FTSE 100 Index slumped by almost 2%.

British property website Rightmove scrapped an upper ceiling for its market share today after reporting strong demand from estate agents and developers.

London’s leading shares ended a volatile week on the front foot today rallying more than 100 points.

Lower oil stocks derailed the FTSE 100 Index today as further strides towards the 6000 barrier came to nothing.

The FTSE 100 Index continued its march towards the 6000 mark today as takeover activity in Europe boosted gas and electricity stocks in London.

Mining stocks led the FTSE 100 Index above the 5700 mark again today as it clawed back losses made earlier in the week.

Investors in the UK piled into banking and housebuilding stocks following optimistic comments from lender Northern Rock and developer Crest Nicholson today.

Buyers padding out their portfolios with media and defence stocks today ensured the London market made strides during the first trading week of the new year.

Defence giant BAE Systems fired the London market back above the 5700 threshold today as analysts warmed further to a major deal with Saudi Arabia.

Signs that retailers enjoyed a better-than-expected Christmas season helped push the FTSE 100 Index to a fresh four-year high today.

Scottish Power was leading the FTSE 100 Index higher today as investors cheered the prospect of a takeover by a German utility firm.

Downbeat broker notes on two of London’s top companies left the FTSE 100 Index threatening to fall below the key 5300 mark today.

Publishing group Emap paced London’s leading shares to another positive close today as a trading update cheered investors.

The London market moved further towards the 5200 barrier today with a sixth consecutive session of progress.

London shares hovered around their opening mark today as investors became more wary after yesterday’s fifth successive session of gains.

A positive performance by oil stocks helped to keep the London market in the black today.

A sharp fall in Cairn Energy’s share price set the tone for a lacklustre start to trading in London today.

The London market spent a second session in the red today as poor weekly jobless data in the US snuffed out hopes of an afternoon rally.

George Wimpey Plc, Britain’s biggest homebuilder by revenue, said profit in the first half increased 29% as the company expanded US output and benefited from rising house prices.