Shares in beleaguered bank Northern Rock climbed over 4 per cent at the open today after the bank said it had received a number of approaches including a possible offer for the company.
In the same statement issued late yesterday, the company cancelled its interim dividend due to be paid next month.
The country's fifth-biggest mortgage lender has been engulfed in crisis since the Bank of England stepped in to offer emergency funding earlier this month.
The bank's shares were up 5.2 per cent at 8:05 a.m., trading at 172 pence.