SHARES STRONGLY UP/DOWN this week 26/12/05 (Master RSI)

FINANCIAL TIMES
The Lex Column:
*Reunited, and it feels so good - The old Peaches & Herb classic is probably playing at Hilton Hotels Corporation after it agreed to buy the hotels business of Hilton Group (HG.L) for £3.3 billion.

Further news:
*Banks face a possible clampdown on sales practices after a banking watchdog identified concerns about the way some loans and credit cards are being sold.
*Katrina helps US charities boost coffers.

THE TIMES
The Tempus Column:
*An initial £1,000 invested in our Tempus Ten in 1998, with the proceeds reinvested in each new year's recommendations, would have grown to £1,773.
*Anti-spam victory a headache for retailers.
*Microsoft (MSF.L) fine could be a price worth paying.
*FTSE 100 builds on 4-year highs.
*Miners gain as gold remains firm.

Further news:
*Wikipedia chief considers taking ads.
*Optimism over economy lowest since Iraq war.
*Pendragon (PDG.L) extends Reg Vardy (VDY.L) deadline.

DAILY TELEGRAPH
*Single digit house price rise - House prices rose 3% in 2005 making it the first time in five years the increase failed to reach double digits, according to Nationwide figures.
*Consumer confidence took a shock dive in December to its lowest level in more than two and a half years, it has emerged.
*President Putin has said that a "real crisis" is mounting as Russia prepares to cut off the flow of gas to Ukraine in January.
*Hilton Group (HG.L) is expected to make one of the City's largest cash returns, of up to £4billion, after agreeing to sell its 400-strong hotel division to its American cousin Hilton Hotels Corporation for £3.3billion cash.

THE GUARDIAN
*British Gas (CNA.L) poised to pass on higher wholesale energy prices.
*Sale of music downloads offsets fall in album sales.
*Enron accountant pleads guilty - Richard Causey admits fraud in return for seven years' jail.

THE INDEPENDENT
The Outlook Column:
*Who'd have thought it? Another good year for equities, but the fun is not entirely over yet.
*Duds, gaffes, scandal, foul language and inspirational leadership: a year that had it all.
*Coal begins to make its comeback from the bottom of a dark and very deep pit.

Further news:
*City forecasts another good year for shares.
*HSBC (HSBA.L) wins right to trade Chinese yuan.
*Rank (RNK.L) completes break-up with £430m sale of Deluxe Film arm.
*Daily Mail (DMGO.L) draws up short list of six for £1.5bn sale of regional titles.

DAILY MAIL
*Hilton Group (HG.L) will be in focus following confirmation yesterday that it has completed the disposal of its hotel division to its US namesake.
*Upmarket online grocer Ocado is to double the number of product lines it sells to 20,000 in a move to take on arch-rival Tesco.com (TSCO.L).

DAILY EXPRESS
*Tube strike looms as talks falter.

DAILY MIRROR
*The "black hole" in the pension schemes of Britain's top 100 firms widened from £65 billion to £75 billion this year.

THE SUN
*Hilton (HG.L), the world famous hotel brand, is to be reunited for the first time in 41 years. US firm Hilton Hotel Corp, which owns the brand in America, is to buy the hotel operations of Britain’s Hilton Group, which owns the brand everywhere else, for £3.3billion.
*Catalogue shopping firm Kleeneze (EHR.L) is giving away 11 new cars to its top distributors.
*House prices could rise in the coming months, top City economists said yesterday.
*Pendragon (PDG.L), Britain’s number one motor dealer, yesterday claimed it controls 28 percent of its Sunderland-based rival Reg Vardy (VDY.L) after more shareholders accepted its £450 million offer.