On July 10, MCI warned shareholders that the losses from its local expansion could reach $800 million in 1997 alone.

Fund companies try to warn potential shareholders away from this tax trap, but some investors still get caught.

Lucent Technologies warned shareholders yesterday that it would revise financial results already reported for the last quarter by cutting revenue by about $125 million.

But the company warned shareholders in 1998 that under Panamanian law they might not be able to enforce judgments against it.

In a trading statement released to the City at 7am, Next also warned shareholders that trading in 2012 would suffer from:

It warned shareholders that they would have "to accept certain sacrifices" in a deal that it hopes to complete soon with bankers.

LWT also warned shareholders that heavy spending on programmes would continue to reduce chances of increased profits.

Schlumberger warned shareholders on Monday that it would announce a comprehensive list of charges after the stock market closed yesterday.

Pfizer is warning shareholders not to attend its annual meeting on an empty stomach.

Mr Horton warned shareholders that there was no sign of immediate improvement in the business and said that oil prices could remain flat 'for some time.'