Invesco Property Income Trust says that it has been approached by a potential bidder.

Malcolm Calvert, formerly a partner at blue-blooded stockbroker Cazenove, has been sentenced to 21 months in jail for insider dealing offences.

Private equity trust HGCapital has decided to press ahead with a £50m placing through an issue of new shares at 845p.

Interim profits fell at Irish food and agriculture group Origin in a tough trading environment, with the trend exacerbated by buying decisions being deferred into the second half.

Flowers and gifts retailer Flying Brands posted a profit before tax of £2.67m in 2009 compared to a loss of £11.91m.

Property investment group CLS Holdings swung into the black in 2009 and increased net asset value by 19%, impressing analysts along the way.

A Mexican billionaire last night became the first man from a developing nation to be ranked the world's richest person.

Smith & Nephew's loss of a patent law suit with US firm KCI over its foam implants is a setback but unlikely to have any significant impact on earnings, brokers Morgan Stanley, Charles Stanley and Panmure Gordon all suggest.

Staff at employee-owned department store operator John Lewis are to share in a £151m bonus pot after the company reported a sharp rise in profits.

Air passengers are braced for further disruption in the coming weeks after talks between British Airways and the unions broke down last night.

HSBC has admitted that data on about 15,000 customers with accounts in Switzerland has been stolen by a former information-technology employee.

Banking and wealth management group Arbuthnot Banking reported a pre-tax profit compared to a loss the previous year

Shares in security camera firm Indigovision fell nearly 7% after it said first half profit was unchanged from the previous year and added that the economic backdrop remains uncertain.

Shipbroking and shipping services group Clarkson said lower freight rates weighed on full year profit but it is well positioned to take advantage of a recovery in shipping markets this year.

Premier Oil has found oil at its wildcat well 34/5-1 S on the Norwegian Blåbaer exploration, near the Snorre field in the North Sea, although another target area turned out to be dry.

Cinema operator Cineworld saluted the success of 3D films such as Avatar in drawing crowds to the cinema as it posted a rise in sales and profits.

RSA Insurance said its Danish subsidiary Codan Forsikring has acquired the renewal rights to TrygVesta's marine hull portfolio for DKK 50m (£6m) in cash.