COMPANIES

Premier League team Arsenal today reported a rise in pre-tax profit in the year ended 31 May 2010, thanks to increased income from trading players and property sales.

The Office of Fair Trading has said that it is considering an offer by Asda to sell 47 Netto stores in order to resolve concerns about local competition raised by Asda's proposed takeover of 194 Netto grocery stores.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading, with HSBC rising as it appears to be on the brink of changing its CEO.

Shares in Mitchells & Butlers were up on the FTSE 250 after the pub group reported a rise in group like for like sales of two per cent in the year to 18 September.

Shares in British banks were broadly down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading.

Shares in United Utilities were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the company said that it was on track to deliver half year results in line with expectations, for the period ending 30 September.

The Communication Workers Union has said it will oppose plans to privatise the Royal Mail, saying the offer of 10 per cent of shares to the workforce is "patronising".

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following news from the US Federal Reserve earlier this week.

Shares in Imperial Tobacco were up on the FTSE 100 after the group said that it expected its results for the full year ended 30 September to be in line with expectations.

Shares in Imperial Tobacco were down on the FTSE 100 ahead of the group's full year results, due out tomorrow.

Shares in Carnival Corporation were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the holiday cruise company reported a rise in revenue for the third quarter ended 31 August.

Shares in easyJet were up on the FTSE 250 after the airline was voted the best low cost airline by business travellers for the tenth year in a row.

Shares in JD Sports were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the retailer reported a rise in profit in the half year ended 31 July.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following news yesterday the Eric Daniels will be standing down as CEO of Lloyds Banking Group.

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following yesterday's announcement that its CEO, Eric Daniels, will be retiring in one year.

Shares in Carnival Corporation were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the cruise liner company's third quarter results due out tomorrow.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of an announcement on interest rates from the US Federal Reserve expected later today.

Shares in BP were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the Macondo oil well was declared "dead" by US officials yesterday.

John Lewis Partnership has reported a rise in pre-tax profit in the half year ended 31 July, with gross sales also rising significantly.

Shares in Mitchells & Butlers were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading following news that the pub group is planning to buy Ha Ha Bar & Grill chain for £19.5 million.

Shares in Dunelm Group were down on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading after the home furnishings company reported a rise in pre-tax profits in the full year ended 3 July 2010.

Shares in Kier Group were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the construction company reported a rise in pre-tax profit in the year ended 30 June.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading, with the exception of RBS, which is currently looking for a buyer for Priory Group.

Shares in Kingfisher were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the retailer reported a rise in pre-tax profit of over twenty per cent in the half year ended 31 July.

Shares in Kingfisher were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the retailer's interim results, due out tomorrow.

Shares in French Connection were up on the FTSE Fledgling in morning trading after the fashion retailer reported a return to profit and dividends in the half year ended 31 July.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following news that unemployment fell in the three months to July.

Shares in Next were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the group reported a rise in profits in the half year ended July 2010.

Shares in Next were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the group's half year results, due out tomorrow.