What The Papers Said: A round-up of Sunday business stories

Speculation is growing that David Montgomery, the former chief executive of Mirror Group, may stage a dramatic return to the newspaper with a takeover bid, possibly with American financial backing. Mr Montgomery played down the rumours last week.

Monsanto obtained copies of confidential European Commission documents ahead of a meeting in 1998 which approved milk from cattle treated with its bovine growth hormone (BST), according to Canadian government documents. The US biotech giant is also under fire in America, where it is pursuing farmers through the courts for not paying licence fees on its seeds.

The Government is set to announce a flotation of a 49 per cent stake in British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) within the next month, although the sale may raise less than the expected pounds 1.5bn as institutions use new energy regulations to argue for a lower price.

A global price war could wipe out profits at Weetabix, the breakfast cereal maker, according to the Ofex-listed company's annual report which will be sent out to shareholders this week.

Unilever is expected to use its pounds 6bn cash pile to launch a pounds 1.5bn-pounds 2bn share buyback when the Anglo-Dutch consumer giant announces its full-year figures on Tuesday.

Laura Ashley may be taken private by its 40 per cent shareholder Malaysian United Industries in a bid to radically restructure the ailing fashion retailer.

However, Malaysian curbs on overseas investment could prevent any takeover move in the immediate future.

The pounds 3bn privatisation of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) could be delayed by row between the Department of Trade and Industry and the KPMG team, which has been looking into the options for selling off BNFL.

KPMG's final report is expected to recommend a flotation, which could prompt the Government to request further studies and may mean any proceeds from the sell-off might not reach the Treasury before the next general election.