Life's A Picnic

Johnston Press hit by classified collapse

The owner of The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post have admitted that newspaper advertising revenues have plummeted

TNS shareholder rejects WPP's offer

Cedar Rock Capital with 9 per cent of Taylor Nelson Sofres wants more cash from WPP despite exit of German bidder

RBS ... Taylor Wimpey ... GfK: Tempus at lunchtime

RBS still lacks a clouter ... Taylor Wimpey has shored up foundations ... the part missing in the GfK riddle

Tempus analysis: Bid riddle

For once the credit crunch isn't responsible for TNS failing to make a bid for GfK - it is all to do with GfK Verein

Johnston scraps payout as ads plunge 21%

The UK regional newspaper group fell to £54m loss and cut the dividend after a £109m write off against acquisitions

WPP's pole position as GfK abandons TNS bid

Despite talks with Apax and wealthy Herz family, the German market research group fails to find £1.1bn takeover funding

Neighbours cannot protect Five profits

The RTL-owned broadcaster broke even in the first six months of the year, with operating income falling by £4 million

MGM orders review but says it's not for sale

The Hollywood studio has hired Goldman Sachs to carry out a strategic review after concern over its $3.7 billion of debt

WPP clear to move as Gfk pulls TNS bid plan

German market research group drops its plans to bid for Taylor Nelson Sofres after a breakdown of talks with Apax Partners

Virgin Atlantic ... RTL: Tempus at lunchtime

Virgin has some cash set aside ready for an acquisition ... RTL is expecting a lot from its Five television channel

Tempus analysis: High hopes

Five is small and chronically unprofitable, yet the chief executive is talking about outperforming ITV and Channel 4

UTV to discuss return of Virgin Radio

Chief executive John McCann says he would be keen to discuss relaunch of Virgin Radio with Sir Richard Branson

Neighbours fails to save Five's TV profits

Ad revenues fall at twice the industry average while the CSI and Neighbours channel awaits the arrival of ITV's Airey

Al-Jazeera makes privatisation its goal

The Arab broadcaster could be privatised if its plan to expand into televising the Champions League and other sports proves lucrative

Tightening economy to force dividend cuts

Investors in Bovis Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Pendragon and Johnston Press are all expected to see their payouts fall sharply