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Monday morning market opening

Barclays suffered a further share price hit today as investors continued to show their concern about the cost of the company’s Middle East bail-out. Read

Postman Pat firm hit by shares slump

Shares in Entertainment Rights, which owns the rights to Postman Pat, slumped today after the group said it was heading for a second breach of covenants next month and could cut its full-year underlying earnings by £10 million. Read

Mandelson gives green light to HBOS-Lloyds TSB merger

The Government gave Lloyds TSB’s planned merger with HBOS the green light today after overruling competition concerns raised by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Read

Shock profits warning hits BT shares

BT shares hit their lowest level in more than 20 years today after the telecoms group issued a shock profits warning. Read

Top ad company faces tough year

Sir Martin Sorrell highlighted the challenge facing the advertising and marketing industry today after his company’s quarterly revenues came in below previous expectations and he warned of ``a very tough year" in 2009. Read

Drugs giant profits rise

Drugs giant AstraZeneca today upped its earnings guidance for the year after reporting a better-than-expected hike in third quarter profits. Read

Mid-morning market update

The London market continued its recent revival today after a weaker dollar helped push a number of leading commodity stocks higher. Read

Alliance Boots content with trading

The billionaire boss of Alliance Boots today described trading as ``relatively resilient" after first half revenues rose by 11.3% on a year earlier. Read

Luminar update sparks profits downgrade

Nightclub operator Luminar saw its shares slide today after it reported a deterioration in sales and City analysts slashed profit forecasts. Read

Rolls-Royce reassures investors

Engines giant Rolls-Royce reassured investors today by revealing it had secured £5 billion of new orders since the end of June. Read

Standard life reassures over buffer

LIFE and pensions giant Standard Life today became the latest insurer to soothe nerves over its ability to withstand market turmoil. Read

Thursday morning market opening

The London market paused for breath today after the stellar gains of the previous session as traders awaited key economic data from the US. Read

Homeowners denied interest-only deal

Mortgage lender Lloyds TSB has stopped borrowers from switching to interest only deals despite its recent pledge to the Government to support homeowners, it emerged today. Read

Standard life savers see payouts reduced

AROUND two million long-term savers with Standard Life will see their payouts reduced after the insurer today became the latest to cut final bonuses as stock market values plummet. Read

Shell appoints new chief executive

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell today named Peter Voser as its next chief executive. Read

Lunchtime market update

Battered financial stocks recouped some of their losses today as investors bet that a further cut in US interest rates will shore up economic prospects. Read

Lufthansa cuts profits outlook

German airline Lufthansa today lowered its full-year profit forecasts as a result of the economic slowdown and higher fuel costs. Read

Standard life savers see payouts reduced

Around two million long-term savers with Standard Life will see their payouts reduced after the insurer today became the latest to cut final bonuses as stock market values plummet. Read

British banking group will not join Irish bail-out

Bank of Scotland Ireland and Halifax will not join the Irish government’s bank bail-out scheme, the financial giant announced today. Read

Stagecoach looks to weather downturn

TRANSPORT group Stagecoach said today it believed its portfolio of bus and rail operations should be ``relatively resilient" in an economic downturn. Read