Financial News

LONDON (Reuters) - Alliance & Leicester said on Monday its share of new mortgage business was almost double its traditional market share in the first quarter and costs remained under control. A&L (AL.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said it made good progress against all its strategic objectives. Britain's seventh biggest listed bank, seen as a potential takeover target, said net lending rose to 1.4 billion pounds in the first quarter, representing a market share of 6.3 percent, up from 5.4 perce ...

LONDON (Reuters) - Alliance & Leicester (AL.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday its share of new mortgage business was almost double its traditional market share in the first quarter and costs remained under control. A&L said it made good progress against all its strategic objectives. Britain's seventh biggest listed bank, seen as a potential takeover target, said net lending rose to 1.4 billion pounds in the first quarter, representing a market share of 6.3 percent, up from 5.4 perce ...

LUXEMBROUG (Reuters) - Arcelor (CELR.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world's second largest steel maker, said on Monday it had formally rejected the unsolicited takeover bid by Mittal Steel (ISPA.AS: Quote, Profile, Research) . "(The) Arcelor Board of Directors met on Sunday June 11 and uninamously decided to reject Mittal Steel's current revised offer," the company said in a statement. The Luxembroug-based company has been fighting off the bid from Mittal Steel launched late in January a ...

SHANGHAI (Dow Jones) -- Investors will be keeping an eye on Baidu.com Inc this week, as China's leading Internet search firm finds itself potentially in play with a heavy patron. Shares of Baidu (BIDU) have bucked the recent general downward trend of China- based equities, posting a gain of around 15% over the past week. An SEC filing published last week indicated that one of the largest U.S. h ...

Lucinda Kemeny, Mail on Sunday11 June 2006 SIGNET, the world's biggest jeweller and owner of High Street chains H Samuel and Ernest Jones, is in secret talks about a potential £2.3bn tie-up with its nearest rival, America's Zale Corporation. OTHER STORIES Jobless total approaches 1m Market report: Friday close Standard Life axes sales staff Linpac poised for £1bn sale &#16 ...