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.

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

Maiden results from credit checking firm Experian were well received today following a 3% jump in its share price.

Matalan shares jumped 7% today as investors cheered better-than-expected sales figures from the discount retailer.

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 FTSE 100 Index sunk into the red today as inflation concerns continued to hit world markets.

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

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

The London market continued its good run today as mining and leisure stocks lifted the FTSE 100 Index to a fresh four-and-a-half year high.

A five-year high for Tokyo’s Nikkei index brought some sparkle to trading in London today as shares continued to push away from the 5600 barrier.

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

Leisure group Hilton was the toast of the London market today as investors cheered news that it had received expressions of interest in Ladbrokes.

A bumper crop of corporate results sent the FTSE 100 Index soaring above the key 5400 mark today.

Oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell pushed the London market higher today after oil prices rose to a record high.

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

Takeover talk swirling around internet bank Egg helped the FTSE 100 Index hit a fresh three-year high today.

The London market maintained its progress today after a positive conclusion to Friday’s session in New York.

The FTSE 100 Index pushed ahead today after the market benefited from a flurry of buying interest in the mining sector.

Confidence in high street retailers sagged further today as a string of disappointing updates sent London shares spinning backwards.

Another batch of downbeat reports from the retail sector ensured the FTSE 100 Index retreated further from a recent 30-month high today.

A batch of gloomy updates took its toll on London shares today and forced the FTSE 100 Index to retreat from its recent 30-month high.

Traders sounded a note of caution today as the FTSE 100 Index retreated from its 30-month high in the wake of a number of gloomy business updates.

British housebuilder Taylor Woodrow today said the recent cooling in the UK property market had left annual profits towards the bottom end of City hopes.

Jitters over the closeness of the US presidential election and high oil prices hampered the London market’s progress today.

Profit-takers were in control of the London market today after new data revealed public sector borrowing in September was twice as high as expected.

International housebuilder Taylor Woodrow today warned sales were likely to be 6% lower than hoped because potential buyers were taking longer to commit to purchases.

British Gas owner Centrica today bought building repair company Dyno-Rod in a £57.6m (€83.9m) deal that boosted its home services operation.

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.

The £60m (€89m) sale of British plumbing company Dyno-Rod collapsed after potential buyers failed to agree a deal, it emerged tonight.

Investors planning to buy drain clearance-to-pest control firm Dyno-Rod have postponed a stock market flotation of the business, it emerged today

A late-afternoon rally by London shares failed to lift the FTSE 100 Index back above the 4400 barrier today.

Engineering and building-based stocks will provide the main focus for investors in Britain next week as hopes grow that companies can start to show the benefit of an upturn in economic confidence.

Evidence of a turnaround in the economy and a raft of corporate news sent the FTSE 100 Index to the highest level seen for a year.

Abbey National and Friends Provident took starring roles on the London market today after both impressed with half-year updates.

London’s FTSE 100 Index remained close to its opening mark today as investors struggled to find reasons to enter the market.

Taylor Woodrow's plans for future expansion is set to come under the spotlight.

The London Stock Exchange remained focused on the high street during an otherwise sluggish session today.

The FTSE-100 Index has lost ground following the Bank of England's decision to keep interest rates on hold at 6% - having been at a 45-point session high moments before the midday announcement.