Updates from British Land, Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce

Friday saw the the Dow Jones take a 21.3-point dip - not helped by a warning that UK interest rates may rise sooner than later - to 6,775 with RoyalMail shares sinking more than 3.5% to 508p while miners and oil players all fell: RandgoldResources was down 2% to 4004p and Fresnillo sank 1.5% to 658p. However easyJet surged 1.8% to 1698p and BA owner IAG was up 1.6% to 567p. Meanwhile latest falling oil prices suggest diesel could even fall below the price of petrol in some areas (Morrisons is snipping prices).

Across the water the Dow Jones was down 33 points to 18,086.4 with both Intel and Chevron both taking 1.4% knocks however the US index was up more than 325 points on the week.

The week starts with a benign trading update fromBritish Land(BL). The first quarter dividend is confirmed at 7p, 2.5% ahead of last year. BL claims retail operational metrics remain strong and it continues to recycle capital selling selected mature assets and investing into its existing portfolio.

In Offices, deals done at The Leadenhall Building and in the "supply constrained City market" are positive moves it claims; handing 5 Broadgate to UBS in June progressed the development pipeline.

"We've taken advantage of favourable market conditions to raise £350 million of convertible bonds at a zero coupon, continuing our strong track record in accessing funding on competitive terms from a range of sources."

Moving onto a new $1.3bn deal forRolls-Royce. The aircraft operator says it has been picked by SAUDIA, national carrier of Saudi Arabia, to provide long-term engine service support for 20 Airbus A330 Regional aircraft.

The airline will operate 20 aircraft in addition to the 12 A330s in service, also powered by the Trent 700. The Trent 700 accounts for 90% of A330 freighters in service and on order Rolls-Royce says.

"We are pleased," says Saudi Arabian Airlines director Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, "to be once again operating the Trent 700 for our latest aircraft. It offers excellent performance and reliability."

Staying in the air it's been reported that weapons player Lockheed Martin could be snapping up helicopter business Sikorsky, maker of Black Hawk helicopters, from United Technologies for around $8bn.

Official confirmation is expected later today. If the deal goes ahead it would signal the biggest aerospace deal for three years and give Lockheed more of a lead over Boeing.

The Pentagon could block the deal in principal, but is not expected to. United Technologies signalled it was open to a possible deal for Sikorsky earlier in the year.

Breaking news: Daily Telegraph reports that Travelodge is up for sale

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