Mail on Sunday

15,000 Volz Shock ; Defender's Landmark Goal Gives Chelsea Title Jolt As Theyfinishyear Six Points Behind United

CHELSEA 2 FULHAM 2 Football CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho was left pining for his first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech and captain John Terry last night as the stumbling champions surrendered another two points at Stamford Bridge with more chaotic defending.

Nasdaq: We Will Set Up Rival to the Lse ; Us Exchange Warns Over Furse Rebuff

NASDAQ has warned that it will set up a rival market to the London Stock Exchange if its bid for the LSE fails. Bob Greifeld, boss of New York's high-tech exchange, has had all of his approaches rebuffed by LSE chief executive Clara Furse.

Carlsberg Boss Hits Back

CARLSBERG is looking for takeovers to strengthen its position in the UK, chief executive Nils Andersen has told Financial Mail. After speculation that the Danish brewing giant could find itself on the receiving end of a bid from Scottish Newcastle, or may even quit the British market altogether, Andersen has hit back.

London's Cipriani in Fight for Name

CELEBRITY restaurant Cipriani in Mayfair, west London, could be forced to change its name following the launch of legal action by the group that owns the world-famous Hotel Cipriani in Venice. The restaurant is frequented by stars including veteran rocker Rod Stewart, who has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List.

Jose's Patched-Up Chelsea in Disarray

CHELSEA 2 FULHAM 2 FOR THE fourth time in a row, Chelsea conceded two goals in a Premiership game and, for the second time within the week, chaos in their John Terry-less defence cost them a late equaliser that gives Manchester United more breathing space at the top of the Premiership.

Bonus Bonanza for River Island Bosses

EXECUTIVES at River Island are in line for bumper bonuses of up to Pounds 1 million each in the New Year on the back of sparkling Christmas trading. The High Street fashion chain, led by chief executive Clive Lewis and managing director Richard Bradbury, is wholly owned by the Lewis family through its Lewis Trust Group.

Mixed Fortunes On Festive High Street

IT has been a tale of two Christmases for the High Street, with clear winners and losers, as the flurry of January trading statements will reveal. First out of the blocks on Thursday will be Next and, despite fisticuffs in the queue outside its shop at Brent Cross, north London, on Boxing Day, a gloomy update is expected.

Gas Price Fears Over Russian Threat

GAS prices in Europe are expected to soar tomorrow if crucial talks in Moscow between Russian giant Gazprom and the Belarus government collapse. There are fears that soaring energy prices across Europe could have a knock-on effect on domestic fuel costs in Britain.

Splits Scandal Boss Pockets Pounds 4.5 Million ; Aberdeen Says Chief Executive Is 'Working Hard' for His Money

THE boss of Aberdeen Asset Management, at the centre of the split capital trusts scandal in which thousands of investors lost money, pocketed nearly Pounds 4.5 million in pay and bonuses for the year to September. The company said chief executive Martin Gilbert's massive remuneration package was largely in recognition of his efforts to expand the business and to keep clients and staff loyal.

Branson, You're Too British for Us ; Like Many Before Him, the Billionaire Virgin Boss Is Finding That His Business Is Not Welcome in America

He is Britain's most admired entrepreneur. He is also to be found in the hall of fame of US business heroes. Yet even Sir Richard Branson has fallen prey to America's rampant protectionism. The decision last week from Washington that his embryonic carrier, Virgin America, must remain grounded, forced a furious Branson to threaten to sell up and ship out. He has a 25 per cent stake in Virgin America the remainder is owned by US institutions. The putative airline will be run by Americans. But ...

Little Brotherly Love at Union Bank

THEY should all be brothers and sisters together a powerful union, the consumer-owned Coop, and Unity Trust, Britain's only bank specialising in providing services for union members, charities and the voluntary sector. Unfortunately, it seems that unity is something the comrades cannot achieve and the bank's independence is under threat.

Chaos Over Recycling of Tvs and Toasters

NEW rules to make companies recycle old electrical equipment are set for a chaotic launch, with some manufacturers quietly pushing the cost on to their business customers, Financial Mail has established. From tomorrow, under the European Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive, whenever a consumer buys an electrical gadget, such as a television or a toaster, stores and manufacturers will be responsible for disposing of the equipment that is being replaced.

As the Costs of Deals Escalate, so Do the Risks

Silence in the Square Mile is always eerie. Particularly so last week, as the quiet followed one of the most hectic years on record for takeovers and mergers. The deserted streets from Lime Street and the Royal Exchange on up to Paternoster Square and even as far as fashionable investment banking haunts in Mayfair, meant that even serious players had dared to take a few days away from the office with only their BlackBerry personal digital assistants for company to blow the odd million or so o...

Pick of the Crop Offers Exciting 2007 Portfolio ; Midas

THIS time 12 months ago, many experts predicted that shares would have a bad year. But they were wrong and most stocks have performed strongly, particularly during the past six months. Now City sceptics say the best is behind us and 2007 will be a rocky year.

Rescue Talks at Failed Tvr

THE administrator of the TVR sports car business will start talks on Tuesday with creditors, unions and potential buyers to try to keep part of the operation together as a going concern. Days before Christmas, the Lancashire TVR factory's holding company, Blackpool Automotive, was placed in administration. Staff were told they would not be paid.

More Uk Firms to Fall to Foreign Predators ; Midas

BRITISH companies are expected to continue to fall prey to foreign takeovers this year, thanks to the debt-fuelled acquisitions spree sweeping world industry. The picture of the borrowing and buying flurry emerges in reports from merger and acquisition expert Zephyr and a separate survey by accountancy firm Deloitte.

Manufacturers' Profits Trailing

BRITAIN'S two-speed economy, with manufacturing struggling while services companies boom, is expected to be highlighted this week. Official figures are likely to show a yawning gulf in the profitability of the two sectors.

Corus Bid Battle

Partygaming May yet Hold Winning Hand ; Taking Stock

AS we contemplate the possibilities for the coming 12 months and tally the results of this year's investments, it is perhaps appropriate that a gambling company should be top of the agenda. Internet bookmaker PartyGaming is making the news this weekend as a significant dealmaker, but also because it is the worst- performing blue-chip share of the year.

Winds of Change at the Treasury

THIS may not be a great year for those 1,000 or so people toiling in the Treasury. For many, 2007 will bring the chance to partake in the bracing climate of workforce flexibility that their department is always urging on the rest of us.