U.K. FTSE 100 Index Increases, Led by Friends Provident on Merger Talks

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks rallied, led by Friends
Provident Plc after Resolution Plc said it is in ``advanced''
merger talks with the insurer. Prudential Plc and Legal & General
Group Plc rose after UBS AG recommended investors buy the shares.

Antofagasta Plc and Anglo American Plc paced gains in mining
companies. Barclays Plc rose after the bank increased its offer
for ABN Amro Holding NV.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Stocks Decline; France Telecom, Anglo American, GDF Lead Slide

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks declined for a third
day, led by financial shares and utilities, after the Bank for
International Settlements said central banks will need to keep
raising interest rates to quell inflation.

Deutsche Bank AG, Germany's largest bank, and French utility
Gaz de France SA paced the drop. France Telecom SA fell the most
in two weeks as the French government began selling shares worth
as much as 3.8 billion euros ($5.1 billion). Anglo American Plc
and Antofagasta Plc led mining companies lower after Cazenove
downgraded the stocks.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.K.'s FTSE 100 Slips, Paced by Land Securities, DSG, Bradford & Bingley

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell for a fourth day,
led by Land Securities Group Plc and DSG International Plc, among
companies that are most sensitive to higher interest rates.

Bradford & Bingley Plc led a decline by banks, while
Antofagasta Plc fell with the price of copper.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

LME copper drifts, awaits US data

Base metals drifted in early business in Europe on Friday, with the market awaiting key data from the United States for clues about future economic growth.

Benchmark three-month copper futures at the London Metal Exchange were quoted at $6,177/6,185 per tonne at 1144 GMT, down $98 from Thursday's close.

Mining shares fell more steeply than the FTSE index of 100 shares.
The world's biggest mining company BHP Billiton was down 0.5 percent and Chilean copper miner Antofagasta was down almost 2 percent by late morning in London.

Read more at Reuters South Africa