• Grand opening Halifax building society's phone and internet bank, Intelligent Finance , said it has opened 8,500 customer accounts in the first 10 days of trading.

• Green light The European Commission said that it had approved plans by Bayer , Deutsche Telekom and Infraserv Hoechst to set up a business-to-business joint venture called Chemplorer.

• Hands off French internet service provider and web portal Free confirmed yesterday that it had been approached by Italian ISP Tiscali , among other potential suitors, but said at this stage it wanted to stay independent.