When commercial property prices crashed in the mid-1970s, in circumstances that were very similar to today, it took them years to recover. Prices then fell 40 percent or more in the depths of the trough, but they were still down 20 percent or more in real terms at the end of the decade.

MZ Consult NY, a leading global investor relations and financial communications firm, invites all market participants to vote on the Investors' Choice award through December 16, 2009. For the 2010 edition, the Investors' Choice awards are for the categories of Best IR Program and Best IR Officer.

Neelie Kroes has defended herself against criticisms from state-supported banks, including Royal Bank of Scotland, which she is forcing to make big disposals. Kroes, known as "Steely Neelie" for her tough approach to big business, declared: "I am not some kind of bank destroyer.

Royal Bank of Scotland's major City shareholders are flexing their muscles, fearful that their views are being drowned out by the dominant government shareholding. Members of the Association of British Insurers are unhappy that they weren't consulted by the bank about the decision by chairman Sir Philip Hampton to take on another directorship.

Strain between the Royal Bank of Scotland's biggest investor, the taxpayer, and City institutions is starting to show. Hampton is understood to have consulted with United Kingdom Financial Investments before taking the decision but did not take the advice of the Association of British Insurers, which represents City investors.

An MP has called for an investigation into how state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland is being allowed to lend £630m to the American firm bidding to buy British confectioner Cadbury. Labour politician Khalid Mahmood has written to Chancellor Alistair Darling expressing concerns about future jobs if Toblerone-maker Kraft is successful in its £9.8bn takeover.

A Canadian company that is taking on all comers in its field -- computer data center infrastructure unification -- has landed in Stamford, opening a corporate office at 1 Dock St. Ottawa, Ont.-based Liquid Computing has taken a 2,000-square-foot space to support the company's accelerated growth and expansion, said Vikram Desai, its president and chief executive officer.

Creditors trying to take over Philadelphia's two major newspapers at a bankruptcy auction next week must bid in cash, not with the millions owed them, a federal judge said Tuesday. The decision overturns a bankruptcy court ruling that seemed likely to give The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News to creditors by year's end.

RBS: Upgraded - Deutsche Securities upgraded shares of Royal Bank of Scotland from Hold to Buy.

Stock market investors were doing their best to look on the bright side today after the combined losses from Royal Bank of Scotland and British Airways reached £1.79 billion during the first six months of the year. Still, the outcome could have been a lot worse they chimed.