Bloomberg.com: U.K.

Bloomberg.com: U.K.

Aviva Plc (AV/ LN): Chief Executive Officer Andrew Moss is considering dropping the insurer's Norwich Union brand, the Financial Times reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the proposal. Moss wants to turn Aviva, the U.K.'s biggest insurer, into a bigger global brand, and as such is considering the future of the brand Norwich Union, the FT said. The shares gained 9 pence, or 1.2 percent, to 762.5.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS LN): The U.K. bank has sweetened its 71.1 billion-euro ($98.1 billion) offer for ABN Amro Holding NV by increasing the cash portion, seeking to trump Barclays Plc (BARC LN) in the world's biggest banking takeover.
Royal Bank, which is bidding with Banco Santander SA of Spain and Fortis of Belgium, offered 38.40 euros a share for the biggest Dutch lender and raised the cash portion to 93 percent from 79 percent, the banks said in a statement today. Barclays's all-stock offer of 34.49 euros a share is 11 percent lower.
Royal Bank's shares rose 5.5 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 640. Barclays climbed 6 pence, or 0.8 percent, to 724.5,