Latest financial news from PA - MSN Money UK

Lloyds cash call sparks a recovery

2009-11-24T12:13:26

The UK's biggest ever rights issue from Lloyds Banking Group received a warm welcome on the London market as the bank bucked falls among its rivals.

Lloyds reveals cash call details

2009-11-24T12:13:26

Lloyds Banking Group has set out details of its £13.5 billion UK record cash call to the bank's army of 2.8 million private shareholders.

Bank reveals £61.6bn RBS/HBOS loans

2009-11-24T12:13:26

Emergency loans to Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HBOS peaked at £61.6 billion at the height of the financial crisis, the Bank of England has said.

Durex firm boosts profits

2009-11-24T12:13:26

Durex-to-Scholl footcare firm SSL International on Tuesday said first-half profits had jumped 59% as its key brands weathered tough trading conditions.

Severn profits beat forecasts

2009-11-24T12:13:26

Utility giant Severn Trent has posted forecast-beating first half profits as it kept a tight rein on bad debts and made cost savings across the business.

Galliford appeals OFT fine

2009-11-24T12:13:26

Construction firm Galliford Try has launched an appeal against an £8.3 million fine levied by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for anti-competitive practices.

Paragon eyes lending return

2009-11-24T12:13:26

Buy-to-let lender Paragon on Tuesday said it was becoming more confident of resuming lending to new customers as money markets free up and bad debts ease.

Oil and gas confidence returning

2009-11-24T12:13:26

The oil and gas industry has tackled the recession better than many other sectors, according to a report which has been published.

Spanish up National Express stake

2009-11-24T12:13:26

The largest shareholder in ailing National Express has upped its stake in the struggling firm for the second time in less than a week.

Cadbury sweetened by bid battle

2009-11-24T12:13:26

Cadbury shares hit a fresh two-year high on hopes of a takeover tussle as reports suggested Swiss food group Nestle is considering entering the fray.

FTSE down despite Lloyds cash call

2009-11-24T11:36:18

Part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group gained ground on Monday as its record £13.5 billion cash call on shareholders was well-received by the market.

Borders 'in emergency rescue talks'

2009-11-24T10:34:26

High street book chain Borders is holding emergency rescue talks as it fights to secure its future, it has been reported.

Dow climbs on home sales figures

2009-11-24T09:13:42

Investors halted a three-day losing streak on the US stock market, sending prices broadly higher on a weaker dollar and better-than-expected home sales numbers.

Blacks stores saved with 4,300 jobs

2009-11-24T09:13:42

The future of Blacks Leisure and more than 4,000 retail jobs have been secured after landlords gave their "overwhelming" support to a rescue deal.

Blue chip shares soar

2009-11-24T08:49:29

London's blue chip share index soared almost 2% amid encouraging news on the US housing market and a new record for gold prices.

Go-Ahead steers bus expansion

2009-11-24T07:49:04

Transport group Go-Ahead on Monday said it had tabled a £20 million local bus service bid as it looks to reinforce its regional footprint.

Twilight boosts Entertainment One

2009-11-24T07:49:04

Record-breaking box office takings for the latest instalment of vampire romance The Twilight Saga has seen shares surge ahead for its UK film distributor.

700 jobs to go at banking centre

2009-11-23T22:03:50

The finance industry has been hit with a pre-Christmas jobs blow with news of more than 700 job losses.

Business confidence growing

2009-11-23T17:46:25

Business confidence continued to grow in the last three months but the economic recovery is still seen as "very fragile", an industry body has said.

Gold prices hit new record high

2009-11-23T15:04:49

The London market forged ahead on Monday as a new record high for gold prices saw miners storm up the risers board.

Global economy 'highly vulnerable'

2009-11-23T13:44:06

The global economy has made "remarkable" progress in moving out of recession but remains "highly vulnerable" to shocks, a finance chief has said.

MITIE expects to gain

2009-11-23T11:56:13

Outsourcing specialist MITIE said it expected to gain from looming public spending cuts as the Government enlists private sector help to deliver savings.

Government urged over productivity

2009-11-23T11:47:05

The Government has been urged to take a lead in helping firms tackle the root causes of lost productivity and ill-health as industry recovers from the recession.

Brown: China can drive UK recovery

2009-11-23T11:47:05

Gordon Brown is to set out his hope that investment from China can drive the economic recovery in Britain.

FTSE 100 boosted by mining stocks

2009-11-23T10:52:50

The FTSE 100 Index made a bullish start to the trading week on Monday as mining stocks led the market higher.

Firms in 'balanced' economy call

2009-11-23T10:52:50

Business leaders have urged the Government to use next month's Pre-Budget Report to help industry recover from the recession while paving the way for a more "balanced" economy.

Crunch 'creates flexible workforce'

2009-11-23T09:15:55

Firms will emerge from the recession with a smaller core workforce but more staff on "flexi" arrangements, a leading business group has predicted.

Business closures dent Northumbrian

2009-11-23T09:15:55

Northumbrian Water has said that rising business failures in its North-East heartlands had landed it with a £1.7 million bad debt bill in the six months to September.

Refund claims fear for banks

2009-11-23T09:15:55

Banks could be flooded with eight million refund claims for unauthorised overdraft charges if they lose the current High Court test case, it has been claimed.

New ITV chief 'mulling pay-TV move'

2009-11-23T08:29:35

ITV's new chairman is considering charging viewers for some of its channels as part of a complete overhaul of the broadcaster, it has been reported.

Cadbury to reject Hershey takeover

2009-11-23T08:29:35

Dairy Milk maker Cadbury would reject a £10.3 billion takeover bid from US chocolate firm Hershey, it has been reported.

Blacks Leisure to back rescue deal

2009-11-23T06:41:23

Landlords of troubled sportswear retailer Blacks Leisure are expected to vote in favour of a rescue deal that would preserve more than 4,000 jobs, an industry body said.

Boys' toys help push up sales

2009-11-23T06:41:23

Boys' toys and men's fashion were among the best selling products at John Lewis department stores last week, the retailer has said.

Lloyds to launch fundraising

2009-11-22T15:38:42

Lloyds Banking Group will take its mammoth fundraising plan to shareholders on Thursday for approval as part of its efforts to side-step the Government's toxic asset protection scheme (APS).

CW, DSG and M&B due to report

2009-11-22T15:38:42

Carphone Warehouse's half-year results on Friday come after the group recently pleased the market by topping forecasts for broadband customer additions and confirming its planned demerger was "progressing at pace".

Bank outlines plans to rein in risk

2009-11-22T15:38:42

The Bank of England outlined plans for "top-up" charges to boost bank balance sheets as it sought to add the "missing ingredient" to financial regulation.

Car maker switches plant to UK

2009-11-22T15:38:42

A Dutch-based luxury sports car-maker is to switch its assembly plant from Holland to Britain to reduce its cost base, it has been emerged.

US stocks fall as dollar rises

2009-11-22T15:38:42

The US stock market ended a down week on Friday with light selling as investors grew uneasy about a rising dollar and spiking demand for the safest government debt.

1,900 jobs go as off-licences close

2009-11-22T15:38:42

Administrators of Threshers owner First Quench have announced another swathe of store closures and more than 1,900 job losses.

Travel firms lead FTSE 100 lower

2009-11-22T12:51:13

Concerns over the outlook for tour operators Thomas Cook and Thomson owner TUI Travel saw the stocks top the fallers board on the FTSE 100 index.

Car production dip lowest this year

2009-11-22T12:22:10

Car production fell last month, but the decline was the smallest this year, it has been announced.

Hershey ups Kraft bid for Cadbury

2009-11-22T06:36:30

US firm Hershey may make a 17 billion US dollar (£10.3bn) bid for Cadbury, topping the recent 16.5 billion US dollar hostile offer by Kraft Foods, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

Nationwide: Rates will remain low

2009-11-22T06:36:30

Building society Nationwide forecast a protracted recovery from recession and interest rates at record lows until "at least" the final quarter of next year.

Major firms in Matalan buy-out bid

2009-11-21T16:05:02

Discount clothing retailer Matalan has drawn interest from at least five major buy-out firms in the opening stages of a £1.5 billion auction, it has been reported.

Staffline hopes to beat forecast

2009-11-21T09:41:28

Recruitment and outsourcing firm Staffline has defied the recession as it predicted full-year results ahead of City hopes.

Google blow for Infoserve

2009-11-21T06:35:19

Online marketing firm Infoserve has revealed it is to lose a reselling deal with internet giant Google.

Brewer braced for tough second half

2009-11-21T05:31:58

Pubs and brewing group Fuller, Smith & Turner has cheered an 18% rise in first-half profits but warned the rest of the year would be "significantly tougher".

Rainy forecast dents holiday duo

2009-11-20T21:51:28

Holiday giants Thomas Cook and Thomson owner TUI Travel has come under pressure after gloomy comments from analysts on prospects for the tour operators.