The race to buy online bank Egg is hotting up, with Lloyds TSB emerging as a possible favourite.

Lloyds chief executive Eric Daniels is persuading directors that buying Egg from majority owner Prudential would increase market share and provide good cross-selling opportunities, according to The Observer.

The paper reports a disagreement over the value of Egg but most analysts put it between £1.2bn and £1.5bn. Egg's most recent results were a disappointment - losses doubled to £34m on the back of a hugely expensive foray in to France.

US bank MBNA is also rumoured to be interested in the online bank. Egg shares were trading at this morning at 161p, down from a year high of 197.5p. ®

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