Stvg Share News (STVG)

Cynthia Carroll, the chief executive of Anglo American, has lost the confidence of leading shareholders who want her to consider merging the London-listed mining giant with its rival Xstrata.Some big investors have drastically reduced their shareholdings in Anglo over the past year because of concerns over Mrs Carroll's leadership. They accuse her of overpaying for acquisitions and failing to deliver in the day-to-day management of the company, the Times reports.The recession will be shorter and less severe than previously expected, according to the CBI, which now predicts that 200,000 fewer jobs will be lost.Britain's leading business organisation has revised its forecasts for the economy, showing output growing from January next year and unemployment peaking at 3.03m, the Times reports.The Telegraph adds that the CBI has also suggested the Bank of England may begin raising interest rates by the end of the year, much sooner than widely expected.Andy Brough, one of the City's most successful fund managers, has taken a near 30% stake in the fund manager Liontrust through his Schroders' investment funds. The move is the latest sign of growing bullishness in the Square Mile that the worst of the credit crunch is over, the Independent reports.ITV is considering legal action against STV Group after accusing the Scottish media company of failing to pay a £22m fee for being part of the ITV network. The accusation, which STV strongly disputes and is the size of the Scottish broadcaster's market value, comes as STV has been opting out of a number of series in the ITV network, reports the Telegraph.Endemol is considering taking a share in Setanta, the sports broadcaster facing imminent administration, according to a person with knowledge of the production company's business goals. But earlier plans by Endemol, one of the world's largest television production companies, to be an equal partner in Setanta with Access Industries have been scaled down, the people said, reports the FT.Winkworth, the London-based estate agency, is defying the worst housing market since the Second World War to launch a flotation on the Alternative Investment Market that can, in turn, fund an expansion across Britain and into India and the Far East, the Times reports.The trade body for banks will tell the Financial Services Authority today that proposed changes to capital and liquidity requirements do not "strike the right balance". The British Bankers' Association says in a letter to the regulator there must be an urgent assessment of the costs of complying with the new rules, the FT writes.Cable & Wireless has insisted it has the backing of many of its leading shareholders despite news that the Association for British Insurers (ABI) is considering a red top alert ahead of the telecom company's annual general meeting. The ABI, which represents close to a fifth of UK shareholders, is believed to be considering issuing a red-top, its most serious warning, on C&W's plans to extend one long-term incentive plan (Ltip) and establish a follow-on scheme to retain top executives, the Telegraph reports.Bill Gates, the world's richest man has begun to build a stake in BBA Aviation, the aircraft servicing company that has a major presence in the US private jet market. Gates, the Microsoft founder, has acquired a 3.16pc holding in BBA through his Cascade Investment fund, reports the Telegraph.Britain's biggest bingo club operator Gala Coral, which is backed by Candover, Cinven and Permira, the private equity companies, is preparing to consult staff on the closure of at least six of its 156 clubs, threatening 180 jobs. Insiders believe that over the next two years the company may consider selling a further 40 to 50 clubs, many of them former cinemas, to focus on more modern, flat-floor venues, the Times reports.