Saturday papers: bid news and gossip - Is HSBC planning to raise £12-billion through a share issue?

* A number of newspapers believe that HSBC is planning to raise more than £12-billion through a share issue, as the banking group seeks to shore up its capital buffers in order to cope with the global economic downturn and is likely to be announced alongside its full-year 2008 results on Monday. HSBC is also expected to announce a cut in its dividend.

* General Electric plans to cut its dividend to 10 cents a share (from 31 cents), its first quarterly cut since 1938

* Corus refuses to rule out job cuts as demand drops

* Jaguar Land Rover secures £600-million order from China

* LDV, the van maker which is seeking Government aid, says that it has been approach by an ‘unnamed bidder’ to buy the assets and move production to a ‘low-cost centre’ abroad

* Segro to seek discounted rights issue

* William Hill secures refinancing

* William Hill has issued a thinly veiled threat to move its internet sports betting operation offshore unless the Government changes the tax regime in the next Budget.