news bulletins – answers

UK’s HBOS, Lloyds in merger talks?

correct the sentences

1. HBOS has lost 15% of it’s share value. 50%
2. The merger wouldn’t be good news. it would be good news
3. Lloyds doesn’t have a mortgage market. it does
4. The Office of Fair Trading would absolutely object. it would absolutely have to agree – ‘wave it through’
5. All UK banks are very reliant on wholesale markets. HBOS is more reliant than most other UK banks
6. Lloyds has 28% of the UK market. it will have following the merger
7. HBOS admits it’s balance book has problems. it admits the balance book is sound (no problems)
8. People want the bank to be nationalised. people don’t want this (don’t want to see another Northern Rock – a bank that was nationalised earlier in the year)
9. The financial markets are calm. no, there is panic setting in
10. Banks with weaker balance sheets can survive better in the current climate. they are being taken over – swallowed by stronger rivals