Rock concert FAQ

Weather forecast for Tuesday in Newcastle upon Tyne: Light rain, maximum 9 degrees, minimum 4, visibility poor. Financial forecast: light grief, max share price 90p, minimum 84p, commercial visibility poor, politics hazy.

The Metro Radio Arena, close to the centre of Northern Rock’s home city, plays host on Tuesday to one of the most eye-catching events in recent British financial history. At the behest of two hedge funds – who bought into the stricken mortgage lender at the wrong price, and who now want the government to ensure them a painless exit – a shareholders’ meeting has been convened to vote on nine resolutions – the intention being to force Rock’s board to take shareholders’ views into primary account as they work on the bank’s rescue.