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Virgin Group, controlled by entrepreneur Richard Branson, is in talks to take over troubled bank Northern Rock, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Housebuilder Bovis Homes Group said on Friday it had acquired regional housebuilder Elite Homes Group for 25.7 million pounds in cash.
Talks between union leaders and the Royal Mail were resuming on Friday to try to avert a new wave of postal strikes next week.
Bookseller and stationer WH Smith reported full-year profits ahead of market forecasts on Thursday and said it expected the key Christmas trading season to be very competitive.
Tesco has joined with government-backed agency the Carbon Trust to measure the carbon footprint of products from light bulbs to orange juice in an effort to see how the weekly shop impacts climate change.
House prices fell at their fastest pace in two years in the three months to September and the outlook for sales was its weakest in 4-1/2 years, as interest rate worries put people off investing in property.
Shares in Vodafone rose 2.5 percent on Thursday as traders cited talk of a change in top management, citing rumours that Chief Executive Arun Sarin may be leaving the company.
Chocolate retailer Thorntons has reported strong-first quarter trading, helped by poor summer weather and weak comparatives, boosting its shares by 9.3 percent on Thursday.
Cadbury Schweppes, the world's largest confectionery group, said it will focus on demerging its 7 billion-pound North American soft drinks unit and list the business in New York rather than selling it off.
Barclays has set up a commodities partnership with China Development Bank, to establish a presence in China's booming commodities and energy markets.
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