THE DAILY BRIEFING

MERGER MOVE Secret talks have reportedly taken place between Scottish Widows and rival Standard Life in a deal to create one of Britain’s largest life insurers.

EXPORTS BOOM British exporters have outperformed Germany and France for the last 15 months thanks to a surge in manufacturing orders driven by the weak pound. PENSION ROW efforts to save the struggling Co-op Bank could be sunk by a spat over its pension pot. ■ DRIVING FORWARD Profits at the RAC were £67m last year, up from a £6m loss the year before. ■ SHOP SALE Online retailer Shop Direct could be snapped up by a San Francisco private equity house. MARS MISSION Silicon Valley billionaire Elon Musk has called for an epic mission to colonise Mars so that humanity can survive even if earth becomes uninhabitable. CHARGING DECISION The Serious Fraud Office could criminally charge Barclays this week over claims it illegally paid £322m to Qatari investors who helped save the bank during the financial crisis. CRUISING ON river cruise company Riviera Travel has reportedly been put up for sale with a £250m price tag.