Weekend round-up

Independent on Sunday

Halifax building society is asking the Treasury to change the rules to allow it to compete with banks while retaining mutual status.

Michael Heseltine says officials will be knocking on doors of small business to stir them into action.

Camelot, the National Lottery group, faces a pounds 10m a week fine if late with its launch.

Observer

FKI has pulled out of a pounds 400m US takeover because stock market weakness has made a planned rights issue too expensive.

British Gas is well placed to win a contract to pipe Colombian natural gas throughout the capital, Bogota.

Sunday Telegraph

Forte plans to end the struggle over the Savoy Hotel group by converting the controlling B shares into widely held A shares, and incorporating some of its hotels in the chain.

The Government is under pressure to clarify its policy on dividends.

Heron chairman Lord Boardman says he expects to have a shortlist of buyers for the group this week.

Sunday Times

Thorn EMI plans to consider demerging its music and rental operations.

Treasury economists are set to lift their growth forecast for this year from 2.5 to 3 per cent.

Speculation that Glaxo will buy US drug group McKesson has reached fever pitch.