Tuesday newspaper round-up: Cadbury, G20, Royal Bank of Scotland

22nd Sep 2009 06:16

Cadbury has approached the UK Takeover Panel to ask Kraft to "put up or shut up" on the unsolicited £10.2bn takeover offer from the US food group three weeks ago. Cadbury approached the panel on Monday to ask Kraft either to make a formal takeover proposal or walk away for six months, said people c

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London close: End of road for winning run

21st Sep 2009 16:21

London's six-day rally ended Monday after banks were sold on fundraising talks and as miners retreated on weaker metal prices. Part-nationalised lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was the biggest faller on reports it is mulling a share issue of between £3-4bn to reduce its dependence on the UK gov

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London afternoon: RBS's rights plans disappoint

21st Sep 2009 14:26

Share prices are drifting lower as investors take stock following the market's recent strong run. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is lower on reports that it is mulling a share issue of between £3-4bn to reduce its dependence on the UK government's toxic asset protection scheme (APS). Lloyds confirmed

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London midday: Miners in a hole

21st Sep 2009 12:24

Investors took an opportunity to bank profits in what has been a quiet session for news, with miners wearing the worst of the losses. Weaker metal prices have Fresnillo, Xstrata, Kazakhmys, Vedanta and Rio Tinto deep in the red. Even Antofagasta is lower now despite a positive note from Goldman Sac

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London open: Footsie slips in early dealings

21st Sep 2009 08:38

London's blue chips have made a sluggish start to the week with corporate activity limited to a bit of asset and balance sheet tidying up by Punch and LandSecs. Punch Taverns has bought back another tranche of convertible debt due for redemption next year, reducing the amount outstanding to just ov

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RBS mulls cash call to avoid toxic debt scheme

21st Sep 2009 07:32

Royal Bank of Scotland is mulling a share issue of between £3-4bn to reduce its dependence on the UK government's toxic asset protection scheme (APS). The move echoes similar moves by Lloyds, as, increasingly, the APS scheme is seen as too expensive a form of insurance by bank shareholders and dire

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Sunday newspaper round-up: Rolls-Royce, G20, Lloyds

20th Sep 2009 10:52

Rolls-Royce is fighting a last-ditch battle to stop Barack Obama axing a military-engine contract that could see it share an estimated $50bn (£30.7bn) in sales over the next two decades. The aero-engine maker was last week lobbying in Washington to prevent funding being withdrawn for its engine for

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London close: Footsie winning streak continues

18th Sep 2009 16:38

London's rising streak continued but it was a bit of a struggle with the absence of economic news and a flat start on Wall Street keeping activity at low levels. Banks provided what little excitement there was, with Lloyds Banking, RBS, HSBC and Barclays the most widely traded blue-chips, with the

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London afternoon: Shares remain becalmed

18th Sep 2009 13:28

Banks are providing what little excitement there is in the market today, with Lloyds Banking, RBS, HSBC and Barclays the most widely traded blue-chip, with the exception of Vodafone. Despite the number of shares changing hands part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group is little changed, down less

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London midday: Shares lack direction

18th Sep 2009 12:23

Leading shares still lack direction with the constituents of the FTSE 100 virtually evenly divided between risers and fallers while the index itself is little changed. Part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group is attracting plenty of comment after it confirmed it is in talks with the government

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London open: Flat start as markets catch breath

18th Sep 2009 08:44

Footsie has made a slow start after Wall St paused for breath overnight on concerns the recent equity market surge may have got ahead of itself. Part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group is making the headlines. It has confirmed talks with the government about changes to the terms of it joining a

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Update: Lloyds at odds with FSA over APS

18th Sep 2009 07:58

Improving economic conditions have prompted part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group to renegotiate its possible participation in the government asset protection scheme (APS). The company issued a statement in response to intense media speculation about its participation in the scheme, with repo

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London pre-open: Footsie to slip back

18th Sep 2009 07:46

Footsie is expected to fall in early dealings after posting more gains yesterday. Part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it is in talks with the government about changes to the terms of its possible participation in the government asset protection scheme (GAPS). Lloyds is also mu

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Lloyds confirms APS renegotiation talks

18th Sep 2009 07:04

Part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it is in talks with the government about changes to the terms of its possible participation in the government asset protection scheme (GAPS). ‘In light of improving economic conditions and the results of Lloyds' detailed reviews of its loan

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Friday newspaper round-up: Lloyds Banking, BSkyB, African Minerals

18th Sep 2009 06:17

Lloyds Banking Group has been forced to abandon its plan to withdraw from the Government's toxic debt insurance scheme after failing to raise enough capital to meet the Financial Services Authority's strict requirements. The decision dashes the hopes of Eric Daniels, chief executive, who wanted a w

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