Financial News

By Keiron Henderson LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 weakened on Wednesday, held back by banking shares and stocks trading ex-dividend, although gains in mining stocks softened the losses. Mid-cap easyJet (EZJ.L: Quote, Profile, Research) was a standout, falling 9.3 percent after recent bid talk was abruptly halted by news Icelandic investment group FL (FL.IC: Quote, Profile, Research) had sold its 16.9 percent stake. The easyJet news damped down the bid speculation which has been such a fea ...

Ross Tieman, Evening Standard5 April 2006 EURONEXT, the pan-European stock exchange that is reviewing its merger options, will give investors the chance to vote on whether it should merge with Deutsche Boerse, the Frankfurt-based exchange that wants to combine with it. OTHER STORIES Dixons to exit High Street BP hit by third output slide Market report: Wed preview Stocks boom spurs cas ...

Martin Bentham, Evening Standard5 April 2006 THE Serious Fraud Office today began criminal proceedings against five companies over alleged price fixing of blood-thinning drugs given to heart patients. OTHER STORIES Dixons to exit High Street BP hit by third output slide Market report: Wed preview Stocks boom spurs cash dash into Isas EasyJet slips as Icelanders pull out THE E ...

This is Money5 April 2006 SHARES in low-cost airline easyJet slipped today after Icelandic investment group FL International shed its 16.9% stake. WANT TO KNOW MORE? READER SERVICE: Share dealing CHAT: Discuss shares POLL: Which of these airlines offers the best value for money? OTHER STORIES Dixons to exit High Street BP hit by third output slide Market report: Wed preview Stock ...

By Benoit van Overstraeten and Jean-Baptise Vey PARIS (Reuters) - French defence firm Thales (TCFP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it had agreed to buy Alcatel's (CGEP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) satellite business, in a deal which will more than double the telecoms equipment firm's stake in Thales as part of a long awaited consolidation of the French defence industry. Thales ...

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The world's largest miner, BHP Billiton Ltd./Plc. (BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) (BLT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , said it could invest up to $5 billion (2.8 billion pounds) expanding its Australian Olympic Dam mine, doubling the project's copper capacity and trebling uranium capacity. BHP Billiton, which is completing a pre-feasibility study into the expansion, said construction could start in 2009, with production from the expanded project beginning from 2013. The ...

Ros Snowdon Deputy City EditorCABLE company NTL is to buy Virgin Mobile for up to £985m in a deal which will offer nearly 10 million UK households a four-way package of cable TV, internet access, home telephone and mobile phone services.The enlarged company will be rebranded as Virgin over the next 12 months and combines the 5.1 million cable customers of NTL with the 4.3 million users of Virgin M ...

Following the news, the company's shares fell 2p to close the day at 962.5p.A spokesman for the company said Mr Crosby is selling the shares for tax planning reasons."He leaves at the end of July so he wanted a to sell some of the shares now. There are few windows of opportunity to sell and this is one of them following the annual results announcement," he said.The spokesman strongly denied that t ...

Evening Standard5 April 2006 SAINSBURY'S has regained its crown as Britain's second-biggest supermarket chain, having overtaken rival Asda, according to market research group ACNielsen. WANT TO KNOW MORE? SWITCH & SAVE: Cut your bills DEAL FINDER: Credit cards SPECIAL REPORT: Supermarketwatch OTHER STORIES BP hit by third output slide Turner's pension challenge Market report: W ...

Tom Nicholls, Evening Standard5 April 2006 BRITAIN'S largest company BP today admitted that its oil and gas production has declined for a third successive quarter. SLOW RECOVERY: Dealing with hurricane-related damage is taking time but Lord Browne is still expected to post record earnings because of surging oil prices OTHER STORIES Turner's pension challenge Market report: Wed preview Sainsbury's back in second spot NTL seals Virgin Mobile takeover Travel early and pay  ...