Investec is calling for the break-up of the artificial hip specialist Smith & Nephew.

BSkyB moved higher in a subdued market yesterday, amid renewed speculation that it could be a bid target.

UBS has called time on ITV's stellar rally. Shares in the broadcaster have increased 272 per cent since Adam Crozier became chief executive in 2010, outperforming the blue-chip index by an incredible 250 per cent.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes could soon be the target of a takeover bid, if market chatter is to be believed.

The Russian oligarch Alexei Khotin has ended up with more control of the oil exploration firm Exillon Energy. The chairman, chief executive and three independent directors all quit on Friday after boss Mark Martin told the board “he was no longer able to exercise practical control over the company… without the support of the newly appointed directors who are nominees of the RusOil Group”.

InterContinental Hotel shareholders could be set for a major windfall this year. The hotel group jumped to the top of the index after an upgrade from the boutique investment bank Bryan, Garnier yesterday.

The £12bn annuities market could be at risk of extinction, Barclays warned yesterday.

Commentators were touting Budget bingo ahead of George Osborne's speech yesterday and it turns out the Chancellor is a fan of the pastime himself.

Shore Capital slapped a sell rating on Tesco for the first time since 1996 yesterday, a sign of just how bad things are for supermarkets.

Albemarle & Bond was granted a brief reprieve yesterday as soaring gold prices and deal rumours helped the struggling pawnbroker book its biggest gains in more than a month.

Labour's business credentials were dealt a blow in a note on the European energy market from HSBC yesterday. The bank said the decision of Centrica, British Gas's owner, to invest in the US rather than the UK has been "vindicated" by Ed Miliband's pledge last year to freeze energy prices if elected. Analysts said its shift "to higher-producing areas such as Norway and the US and away from the UK" justified its overweight rating, helping the company up 6.9p to 334.8p.

RSA has been doing the rounds with investors after last month's "disappointing" set of results and Barclays are cautiously impressed.

Short sellers are predicting bad news from Wm Morrison's preliminary results tomorrow.

Vodafone has made a second swoop for the Spanish cable operator Ono and it looks like it’s been successful.

The Ruia family's failed attempt to take Essar Energy private last month raised eyebrows in the City but it looks like they could be gearing up for another run at it.