Morning Eyecatchers: RBS aims to maintain recovery plan

* RBS believes it is close to agreement with Treasury with respect to proposed participation in the Asset Protection Scheme; negotiations in final stages; EC talks will include some divestments not initially contemplated; any required divestments do not threaten its recover plan which is already underway; announcements regarding APS, EC position currently planned no later than third-quarter results on November 6

* HSBC says Asia mergers and acquisitions to focus on China and emerging markets

* Chloride first-half profit falls 16%; confident on year; first-half adjusted profit £16.2 million vs £19.2 million; trading in line with expectations; first-half sales £152.7 million vs £152.3 million; interim dividend 1.9p vs 1.85p

* Ryanair first-half profit up 80%; may end rapid growth and distribute cash to shareholders instead; net profit before exceptional items to end of September came in at 387 million vs 377 million expected; an order for 200 Boeing aircraft has not progressed much and it may end its traditional relationship with the aircraft maker

* Quintain Estates confirms it is considering an equity issue

* Babcock International acquires Ukaea for £38 million

* Randgold and Anglo Gold buy further 20% of Moto gold project

* Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline announce positive results in second of two Phase III trials of Benlysts

* Mondi Polish unit completes refinancing

* Abcam underlying sales growth in line

* AssetCo signs joint venture with Abu Dhabi government

* Synchronica wins African mobile contract for $270,000

* BGlobal raises £2.25 million to hasten meter roll out

* Alternative Networks acquires software firm

* Clearstream Technologies swings to full-year profit

* Sanderson had strong year-end; momentum continues

* Anite names Richard Amos as new finance director

* Communisis says new chief executive took over on October 31

* Mortice chief executive Andrew Barker to retire

* West Pioneer Properties sees Indian retail sector recovery

* BowLeven full-year loss narrows to $10.2 million; takes $50.5 million charge

* ENOC to buy remaining stake in Dragon Oil

* Leed petroleum Eugene Island well restarts

* Weatherly gives Covenco option to buy Kombat mine

* Ascent Resources Pen-104 well shows substantial gas reservoir

* Chariot Oil & Gas sees solid platform for growth

* Jubilee Petroleum in smelting tie-up with Sylvania Resources

* D1 Oils agrees settlement with US firm

* Alkane Energy signs tolling contract with GDO Suez

* Pernod Ricard targets slight 2009/10 profit growth

* At least 15 killed in Rawalpindi blast in Pakistan

* Boat with 40 people sinks near remote Cocos Islands

* UN secretary-general arrives in Afghanistan

* Russia has warned EU president of possible disruption to natural gas supplies to European consumers because if problems with Ukraine over energy payments