Merrill Lynch goes in search of weakest runners

Wall Street investment bank demands its army of equity analysts identify far more companies whose shares they believe will fall

Business big shot Steven Crawshaw

Bradford & Bingley's rights issue U-turn isn't the first time that Steven Crawshaw has said one thing and done another

Focus on Barclays as banks share spotlight

Bradford & Bingley's announcement has put pressure on Barclays to announce a capital-raising in its trading update

B&B apology after rights issue U-turn

Steven Crawshaw, the Bradford & Bingley chief, announced a £300 million rights issue just weeks after ruling one out

Demutualisations lose their shine

B&B appears to have been caught out by a report a month ago that it planned to launch a rights issue

Tempus: More cash please

Analysis: Bank balance

Former UBS banker charged with US tax fraud

Bradley Birkefeld is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the US in a tax evasion scam to hide assets

'Worried' Darling says he did not re-write budget

Alistair Darling claimed slashing taxes to end political row was not a U-turn, but admitted he was 'worried' by inflation

B&B raises £300m of emergency funding

Despite denials just weeks ago Bradford & Bingley is shoring up the balance sheet with a 48% discounted rights issue

Battered B&B in emergency rights issue

At least one institutional investor has been approached about the possible underwriting of the Bradford & Bingley deal

Writedowns threaten cut in dividend at A&L

More than half a million shareholders in Alliance & Leicester are facing a dividend cut of 30 per cent this year, analysts predict

Crédit Agricole to cut investment banking

One of France's biggest banks is set to shrink its investment banking unit as it counts the cost of the sub-prime crisis

Shares look cheap but banks' outlook unclear

History suggests buying bank shares at the time that banks come cap in hand for fresh equity is been a successful strategy

Moulton calls for ratings link to bank bonuses

Private equity entrepreneur tells MPs that bonus schemes encourage short-term risk taking and should affect bank ratings

Former Fidelity guru changes tack to back banks

Market expert Anthony Bolton voices caution on shares in general but says time may be right to put your money into bank stocks

ABN Amro loses M&A talent in Asia to Barclays

ABN lost a raft of M&A stars to Barclays as investment banks look to Asia to offset the deal drought in the West

Informa shares jump as private equity circles

The price of the battered publishing group jumped 10% as Carlyle and Apax emerged among those who think it attractive

Crédit Agricole seeks €5.9bn to ride crunch

French bank plans to raise €5.9bn through rights issue after a further €1.2bn in sub-prime related write-downs

A&L shares dive on fresh £390m writedown pain

Shares of Britain's seventh largest bank drop 11% despite assurances on profits, loan defaults and mortgage arrears