SCOTLAND’s richest man has pledged to donate £1 billion (€1.5bn) to charity.

The London market advanced today as blue-chips benefited from broker upgrades and stronger trading in New York.

British supermarket giant Tesco extended its reach even further today after agreeing a £155m (€228m) deal to buy one of the UK’s biggest garden centre chains.

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.

British housebuilder Crest Nicholson today said it had backed a £715m (€1bn) takeover offer from banking giant HBOS and tycoon Tom Hunter.

Traders overcame a quiet session for corporate news by turning the spotlight on possible merger and acquisition activity today.

British high-street banking group HBOS and Scottish tycoon Tom Hunter were today being tipped to make another attempt to land housebuilder Crest Nicholson.

Homebuilder Crest Nicholson emerged as a takeover target today after it turned down a bid worth £658.6m (€979m).

London’s leading shares plunged into the red today after struggling to hold onto early gains as US inflationary pressures continued to dog the market.

Mining stocks helped the FTSE 100 Index return to positive territory during another busy session for corporate news today.

The UK’s biggest builder of retirement homes backed a takeover offer worth more than £1bn (€1.4bn) today.

Rangers owner David Murray today revealed he could sell the club within three years and has already had interest from potential buyers.

Icelandic group Baugur was today thought to be behind a bid for House of Fraser after the department store chain revealed it had received a “very preliminary” approach.

Department stores chain House of Fraser was said today to be on the shopping list of private equity firm Apax Partners after revealing a bid approach last week.

FAMILY members believe the officials likely knew of the miners’ fates some time before then - maybe as soon as 20 minutes after the celebration began.

The sisters of murdered Belfast father-of-two Robert McCartney have been nominated for an international humanitarian award, it was announced today.

Bidders circling British supermarket chain Somerfield will learn this week if their £1bn-plus offers have gained boardroom support, it was reported today.

UK high street retailer The Gadget Shop was today reported to be on the brink of administration following a boardroom dispute.

British supermarket chain Iceland was poised to be separated from its parent company Big Food today after the group received a £326m (€474.5m) offer from Icelandic retailer Baugur.

Millionaire British businessman Tom Hunter has pledged to donate up to £7m (€10.2m) to Band Aid by matching the proceeds of the chart-topping single and the Live Aid DVD.

Selfridges today announced it is recommending shareholders approve a fresh £598m (€832) takeover bid for the upmarket department store from Canadian billionaire Galen Weston.

Shares in Selfridges are set for further gains this week as more potential bidders for the department stores group emerged over the weekend.

London’s leading shares just managed to finish the week in positive territory today after earlier gains melted away.

The London market managed to close with its head above the 4000 mark today, despite receiving a blow from Wall Street during afternoon trading.

The FTSE 100 Index eased past the 4000 level today as weak trading took its toll on blue-chip shares.