Rate of deals collapsing has increased since September. Announced M&A activity is down 27%in the year to date compared with 2007, and the quarterly rate of withdrawn deals has hit a two-year high

Shares fall 43% after group say it is in talks with HBOS, Lloyds TSB, HSBC and RBS, that would leave the lenders owning a majority stake in the beleaguered fund manager

Frontrunner triumphs from selection described as 'the worst in the history of the award'

Persimmon has become the latest housebuilder to look at prematurely refinancing its debt in an attempt to avoid a possible breach of its banking covenants

Aer Lingus is uniquely vulnerable to Ryanair's advances, according to Michael O'Leary, in spite of the rejection of his latest bid