Papers

STANDARD LIFE'S successful first day of trading on the London Stock Exchange takes top billing today.

THE SCOTSMAN claims the new money being raised through Standard Life's flotation today is unlikely to give it any significant commercial edge.

MINISTERS HAVE been accused of trying to bully victims of pension schemes which have wound up into dropping their legal case to force the government to compensate them for their losses, reports The Financial Times .

ORGANISED CRIMINALS with links to Northern Ireland's paramilitary groups are increasingly using third parties, including advisers, in an effort to hide the origin of their money, according to senior financial investigators, reports The Financial Times....

HEDGE FUNDS should no longer be taboo for retail investors the European commission is likely to rule this year, reports The Guardian .

AN INSURANCE company is to close its well-funded final-salary pension scheme to new employees next summer, reports The Times .

RICHARD LAMBERT, the new director general of the CBI, has attacked the government over the case of the NatWest Three, reports The Daily Telegraph .

THIS MORNING'S papers all mention the criticism aimed at the Chancellor by the head of the Bank of England.

A BIG disappointment looms for 2.4m with-profits policyholders in Standard Life when the company floats on 10 July, the Scotsman claims this morning.

STANDARD LIFE'S executives will reap financial benefits from a low flotation price for the mutual's shares, aligning their interests with big institutional investors rather than policyholders, the Times reports this morning.