COMPANIES

French government ministers have expressed dismay at a decision by Eurostar to sign a contract for ten new trains with German company Siemens AG, rather than with French firm Alstom SA.

Shares in Barclays were down on the FTSE 100 after the bank said it would be cutting its tracker mortgage interest rates by as much as 0.41 per cent.

Shares in British banks were broadly down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of the Bank of England's decision on interest rates, due to be announced today.

Shares in Halfords were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the cycling retailer said it expected to report double-digit profit growth in the first half year ended 1 October 2010.

Shares in Halfords were up on the FTSE 250 ahead of a trading statement from the cycling retailer, due out tomorrow.

Shares in easyJet took off on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the budget airline reported a rise in passengers and higher profit expectations despite strikes and Icelandic volcanoes.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading on hopes that governments around the world may move to stimulate their economies further.

Shares in Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after Rio Tinto denied reports that a planned joint venture between the two is on the brink of collapse.

Shares in British Airways were up on the FTSE 100 after the group reported a rise in passenger numbers in September.

Alliance Boots has said it will be cutting around 900 non-store jobs as part of a programme to create a "leaner central support organisation" for its Health & Beauty Division.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading echoing yesterday's performance which saw part-nationalised banks Lloyds Banking Group and RBS decline in the first few hours of the day.

Shares in Tesco were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the supermarket giant reported double digit profit growth in the half year ended 28 August.

Shares in Tesco were up on the FTSE 100 ahead of the supermarket giant's interim results, due tomorrow.

Shares in Yell Group were up over 10 per cent on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading after the directories company said it had appointed Tony Bates to be its new Chief Financial Officer.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following a report that further bank bailouts may be needed.

Shares in Premier Foods were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the group confirmed that it had received bids for the takeover of its meat free business, including Quorn.

Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed that it has registered an interest in moving from its historic stadium at White Hart Lane to the Olympic Stadium, following the 2012 Olympics.

Shares in BP were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the oil giant said it had pledged some of its Gulf of Mexico assets as collateral for the $20 billion Deepwaater Horizon Oil Spill Trust, which pays out compensation claims to those affected by this year's disaster at the oil well.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as EU finance ministers meet to discuss the subject of taxation for banks.

Tate & Lyle shares fell on the FTSE 250 today after the company issued a trading statement ahead of its results for the half year ended 30 September, due out at the beginning of November.

BT has said it will be launching a new £132 million project aimed at bringing broadband to the "vast majority of businesses" in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by 2014.

Shares in British banks were broadly down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after news from Ireland and Spain appeared to discourage investors.

Shares in Compass Group were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the company issued a trading statement ahead of its full year results, due out on 24 November.

Shares in BP were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the group's CEO-in-waiting announced the establishment of a new safety division which will have "sweeping powers" in overseeing and auditing BP operations worldwide.

Shares in First Group were up on the FTSE 250 after the transport group said that its trading for the six months ended 30 September was "in line" with expectations and that it was "on track to deliver moderate earnings growth for the full year".

Shares in Domino's Pizza were down on the FTSE 250 after the group reported a rise in sales in the third quarter ended 26 September.

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading despite assurances that banks would not be hit by a capital surcharge.

Shares in Smiths Group were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the technology company reported a rise in pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 July.

Shares in Smiths Group were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the technology company's full year results, expected tomorrow.