Speculation surrounding BAA increased today after a report said a private equity group was working on a possible bid for the airports operator.

UK- based engineering group Invensys today posted a 39% fall in half-year profits, but insisted a shake-up had given it “a real sense of operational momentum”.

ENGINEERING group Invensys is seeking to raise £500 million through new shares as it battles to rebuild its balance sheet.

In a busy week for corporate results, the telecoms sector will hog the limelight. Figures from Vodafone, Cable & Wireless and Marconi are due - giving investors more clues about how the industry will cope with a global slowdown.