Dividend hopes strengthen as Lloyds earnings rebound: Lloyds Banking Group has strengthened its hand in negotiations to resume paying dividends in the second half after unveiling a one-third rise in underlying interim profits. London airport expansions 'must benefit' Scotland: Scotland and other regions of the UK must benefit from any future expansion of airports in and around London, an independent economic development organisation has warned. City A.M. Russian banks are frozen out: New European Union sanctions against five of the largest Russian banks will hit the City hardest, according to analysts, while major restrictions on arms sales will not apply to France's warship sales to Moscow.