Europe shares pare losses; M&A counters credit woes

(Reuters) - European shares pared losses in mid-morning trade on Monday as merger and acquisition news helped distract investors from credit market worries.

At 0940 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 of top European shares was down 0.6 percent at 1,507.81 points after earlier falling as low as 1,500.39.


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FTSE up as miners support but credit fears remain

(Reuters) - The FTSE 100 index of Britain's leading shares edged up on Friday after U.S. stocks climbed overnight as robust earnings tempered nervousness about more weakness in credit conditions.

Such worries were heightened after Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. -- a subprime lender in the process of being sold -- which raised concern about its ability to stay in business. For details, see.


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FTSE 100 Drops, Paced by Legal & General, Home Retail Shares; Shell Climbs

(Bloomberg) -- The U.K. FTSE 100 Index dropped to a
four-month low, paced by insurers after Legal & General Group Plc
said flood claims and a slowdown in new business held back first-
half profit. Prudential Plc dropped.

Home Retail Group Plc paced a retreat in retail shares,
while Bradford & Bingley Plc led banks stock lower as earnings
missed analysts' estimates.


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U.K. FTSE 100 Index Pares Losses; Paced by SABMiller, Vodafone Group

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks pared losses, paced by
SABMiller Plc and Vodafone Group Plc.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index lost 2.3, or 0.1 percent, to
6496.4 at 9:59 a.m. in London. The measure earlier dropped as
much as 0.6 percent. The FTSE All-Share Index slid 5.07, or 0.2
percent, to 3354.87. Ireland's ISEQ Index dropped 92.66 to
8737.01.


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European stocks at 1-month low on US worries

(Reuters) - European stocks fell across-the-board in early trade on Wednesday, tracking sharp losses on Wall Street, as equities were hit by renewed worries about the U.S. economy, while some earnings also disappointed.

By 0715 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 0.3 percent at 1,581.6 after falling to its lowest since June 27. The index lost 1.5 percent on Tuesday.


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FTSE gains as Barclays ups ABN bid, insurers buoy

(Reuters) - The FTSE 100 of Britain's leading shares edged higher on Monday as merger and acquisition activity boosted stocks at the start of a busy week for corporate earnings.

At 0806 GMT, the UK's main share index was up 9.9 points, or 0.2 percent at 6,595.1.


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Barclays, Diageo, Friends Provident, Shell: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from the market close on July 20.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index declined 55, or 0.8 percent, to
close at 6585.20 in London. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 25.96,
or 0.8 percent, to 3407.79.


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Asia shares ease, oil eyes record high

(Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 Index and Germany's DAX rose about 0.2 percent in early trade while France's CAC 40 edged up nearly 0.1 percent.




Data on Friday showing improved U.S. consumer sentiment sparked optimism that shipments to Asia's top export market would stay strong, helping to limit regional stock losses and lending support to the dollar.


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HBOS, BHP Billiton, Tesco, Aviva, Vodafone: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from the market close on July 13.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index advanced 19, or 0.3 percent, to
close at 6716.70 in London. The FTSE All-Share Index added 13.87,
or 0.4 percent, to 3467.92.


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FTSE edges up on oils, M&S but miners weigh

(Reuters) - Britain's top share index rose 0.2 percent early on Tuesday, edging closer to a near seven-year high, as gains in oil companies and Marks & Spencer outweighed losses in miners.

At 0739 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 14.6 points at 6,727.3. European shares also firmed.


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FTSE up as M&A boosts hotels, properties; BoE eyed

(Reuters) - Britain's top share index inched higher early on Wednesday ahead of an expected interest rate rise by the Bank of England this week, with hotel groups up after Blackstone agreed to buy Hilton Hotels.

At 0727 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 17.5 points, or 0.26 percent at 6,657.3, even though the pound had hit a 26-year high against the dollar. European shares also rose.


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UK stocks rebound on miners, but lag Europe

(Reuters) - Britain's leading index rose on Tuesday, buoyed by miners and strong U.S. gains overnight, but lagged its European counterparts as sterling rose above $2 to levels not seen for a quarter of a century.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.6 percent at 0826 GMT but slightly lower than other European markets as investors anticipated the Bank of England would raise rates to 5.75 percent from 5.5 percent on Thursday.


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Asia stocks gain after days of U.S. pain

(Reuters) - European shares opened firmer on relief over U.S. stocks. Investors are gearing up for the Federal Reserve's decision on U.S. interest rates after the market close.




After 10 minutes of trading, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.5 percent, Germany's DAX gained 1 percent and France's CAC 40 added 0.8 percent.


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BP, LSE, Tesco, Thomas Cook Group, Stagecoach: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from the June 26 close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 29.10, or 0.4 percent, to
6559.30 in London. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 14.34, or 0.4
percent, to 3384.04.


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Yen hits lows, Asia stocks struggle to hold gains

(Reuters) - European shares were seen unlikely to make much headway following lackluster leads from Wall Street and Asia. Financial bookmakers expect London's FTSE 100 index to open between 3 and 7 points lower.




Oil prices backed off Monday's 10-month peak to near $72 a barrel but supply worries were seen limiting the downside.


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FTSE down on interest rate worries; banks weigh

(Reuters) - Britain's leading shares edged down on Wednesday amid a global slide triggered by U.S. Treasury bond yields hitting their highest in five years and exacerbating fears that central banks around the world may hike interest rates.

At 0722 GMT the FTSE 100 index was 26.8 points, or 0.4 percent lower at 6,493.6.


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U.K.'s FTSE 100 Closes Unchanged; Shell Gains on Merrill Lynch Upgrade

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks including Royal Dutch
Shell Plc rose after Merrill Lynch & Co. suggested investors
increase their holdings of the shares. BHP Billiton paced falling
shares after copper fell in London. Rexam Plc declined on talks
to buy a plastics company.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index today was unchanged at
6,505.10. For the week, the index declined 2.6 percent, its
biggest weekly drop in three months. The FTSE All-Share Index
dropped 0.1 percent today to 3,364.66. Ireland's ISEQ Index lost
0.5 percent to 9,381.82.


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U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index Slides, Paced by Vodafone; Anglo American Retreats

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell, paced by
Vodafone Group Plc. Anglo American Plc led mining shares
lower after copper slid in Asia.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index decreased 28.6, or 0.4
percent, to 6,476.5 at 8:10 a.m. in London. The FTSE All-
Share Index dropped 0.4 percent to 3,351.99. Ireland's ISEQ
Index lost 0.7 percent at 9,396.98.


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U.K. FTSE 100 Index Falters as Standard Chartered, InterContinental Fall

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks erased gains as Standard
Chartered Plc and InterContinental Hotels Group Plc declined. BHP
Billiton paced advancing shares.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index retreated 4.6, or 0.1 percent,
to 6659.5 in London at 12:22 p.m. The index rose as much as 0.3
percent earlier. The FTSE All-Share Index slipped 2.78, or 0.1
percent, to 3455.9. Ireland's ISEQ Index declined 196.72, or 2
percent, to 9766.72.


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BSkyB, EMI, Britvic, Cadbury Schweppes, Mitie: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from the May 18 market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index rose 61.60, or 0.9 percent, to
close at 6640.90 in London as 77 stocks rose, 20 fell and 5 were
unchanged. The FTSE All-Share Index gained 29.09, or 0.9 percent,
to 3449.69.


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