COMPANIES

Shares in HMV were up over six per cent on the FTSE Small Cap and are a "cautious buy", ahead of tomorrow's preliminary results for the full year.

Four key facts regarding a trading update from Serco Group today.

Shares in Carpetright were down nearly ten per cent on the FTSE 250 and are a recommended sell, despite the group reporting a rise in pre-tax profit of 33 per cent and a doubling of its full year dividend.

Taylor Wimpey, a FTSE 250 housebuilder, has seen a recovery in sales in a trading statement released today.

iPhone networks in the UK are dropping 'unlimited' data plans after the new iPhone 4 launch in order to maximise its 3G performance..

Shares in Standard Chartered were down in morning trading on the FTSE 100 as an "upbeat" pre-close update was overshadowed by the prospect of greater regulation of the banking sector by the G20.

A third round of walkouts is to be balloted next Tuesday, 28t June as Unite, the Union receive a final offer from British Airways.

Shares in Berkeley Group Holdings were up on the FTSE 250 despite the property company reporting a drop in pre-tax profit of over eight per cent in the full year ended 30 April.

'Friends Life' the new brand formed by Axa's UK Life and Pensions business merging with Friend's Provident has been announced today after Resolution acquired Axa's business for £2.75 bn.

Buyout vehicle Resolution is to buyout the UK life assurance business for £2.75 billion. The deal, which includes the life insurance business, pensions business, Corporate and Annuities business is underwritten by Barclays Capital and RBC Capital Markets - and other shareholders of the buyout group.

Pre-tax profit at DSGi, owner of Currys electrical stores, increased 61 per cent in the full year ended 1 May, significantly lower than that expected by analysts.

The British Airways merger with Iberia, which is subject to a pensions recovery plan, now appears likely to go ahead because the company reached an agreement with pension trustees.

Shares in DSG International were up on the FTSE 250 and are a recommended "buy" ahead of tomorrows preliminary results, which are expected to show a significant rise in pre-tax profit.

Imagination Technologies, the chip designer, which licenses and sells its designs to Intel and Apple has fallen on the FTSE 250 today after announcing full year pre-tax profits of £10.2 million.

Stagecoach Group, the rail and bus operator is looking towards a profitable year ahead after winning a dispute with the DfT earlier this year.

Kesa Electricals has beaten its profits targets as it reported full year profits of £81.9m - above the £75 million it had predicted for for the 12 months ended 12 April.

Budget airline easyJet has welcomed news in today's Emergency Budget, announced by George Osborne, that Air Passenger Duty will be reformed.

Shares in Kesa Electricals were up on the FTSE 250 and are a weak hold ahead of tomorrow's full year results, which are expected to show a rise in pre-tax profit of 10.5 per cent to around £77 million.

Shares in Whitbread were up over three per cent on the FTSE 100 and are a "strong buy" after the group reported a rise in group like for like sales of 7.6 per cent in the 13 weeks to 3 June, while total group sales were up 13.5 per cent.

Wal-mart's Asda supermarket chain, warned of continuing decline in consumer confidence today after announcing its like-for-like sales remained in retreat at 0.3 pct on last year.

Warm weather and a World Cup pushed up online sales 22 pct in May say Interactive Media Retail Group.

Shares in Domino Printing were up nearly six per cent in morning trading after the company reported that it had more than doubled its profits in the half year ended 30 April.

One of BPs partners at the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon oil well has accused the beleaguered oil giant of "gross negligence", a charge BP has denied in a week when its CEO Tony Hayward faced the wrath of the US Congress.

iPhone 4, announced last month could be the 'most successful iPhone ever' according to Ben Wood of CSS Insight.

Santander is confirmed as the only bidder today for RBS' approximately 318 historic ex-Williams & Glyn's banking branches.

Anger at BP was growing amongst US congressman as the final session of the Chief Executive's hearing began.

BP Chief Executive, Tony Hayward has expressed his desire to find out the cause of the explosion on Deepwater Horizon whilst defending the safety record of his company during his tenure as its CEO.

BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward has apologised to a US subcommittee after a BP oil leak starting April 20 has caused untold damages to the Gulf of Mexico and its communities.

'Rule Britannia' is the message that one brokerage, Nomura is giving these days, after Prudential’s failed bid for AIA, highlights the need for ‘British’ businesses to target a ‘British market’.