Lloyds chief executive Eric Daniels says the banking giant "did the country a great service" in taking over stricken lender HBOS last year.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway saw its second-quarter profit fall 40% as derivative bets on stock indexes declined during the global equity downturn.

The Bank of England is likely to cut the UK's economic growth forecast by 1% for both and this year and 2011.

Schroders' Richard Buxton remains bullish on the long-term earnings potential in the banking sector after the UK's big-four reported strong profits last week.

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Clive Cowdery's Resolution consolidation vehicle has received 95.5% shareholder take-up of its £2bn rights issue, which will help fund its part acquisition of Axa's UK business.

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group reported a small £9m net profit over the first half of the year, after recording a £1.14bn pre-tax profit in the six-month period.

Troubled oil giant BP will restore dividends next year at 65% below its previous payout level, derivative prices show.

Henderson UK Property fund manager Marcus Langlands Pearse dismisses suggestions the property market faces an imminent demise and says prices are now at fair value.

Schroders posted a £1.8bn net retail inflow in the second quarter of the year, helping to propel its first half net retail sales to £5.1bn.