Peston should have known that the disastrous HBOS rights issue in late July was priced at £2.75. The market shunned it with the underwriters getting stuffed and left holding two-thirds of the £4 billion offering. So why would Lloyds want to pay more than the price which was shunned two months ago when conditions have deteriorated? Doh! He now says it will be nearer to £2.
Peston needs to be careful that he doesn’t get accused of creating a false market. There are laws and a Stock Exchange Regulatory New Service for market moving news!