FT.com - The FTSE Eurofirst index edged higher helped by a gain in London, but the major bourses of Europe were flat to weaker.

AFP - European stock markets fell in early dealing as some poorly-received earnings offset a strong opening to March by Wall Street.

AFP - Countries across the European Union consistently fail to report fraud and other financial irregularities, a British spending watchdog said, urging Britain to lead by example.

AFP - The FTSE 100 closed higher as receding fears over US interest rate hikes helped offset spiking oil prices and a slide in the shares of blue chip heavyweight GlaxoSmithKline, dealers said.

AFP - Money laundering and terror funding must be criminalized by all countries through effective legislation, the European Union's counter-terrorism coordinator said.

AFP - The FTSE 100 managed to close above its session lows at the end of a fairly dull session, with a positive morning by Wall Street outweighed by losses in GlaxosSmithKline and Xstrata.

AFP - European stock markets fell in early dealing, amid a mixed performance overnight on Wall Street and refusal by Swiss mining group Xstrata to enter a bidding war with rival BHP Billiton for control of WMC.

AFP - European stock markets rose in early dealing, a day after Wall Street skidded lower on a spike in oil prices, and amid a clutch of corporate news, dealers said.

AFP - European stock markets fell in early dealing following an overnight hammering on Wall Street amid surging oil prices.

AP - Share prices were higher on the London Stock Exchange Friday.

AFP - Italy's budget deficit is likely to worsen this year and exceed the three percent limit set for EU countries, opposition leader Romano Prodi said, launching a scathing attack on the government's economic management ahead of regional elections next month.

AFP - The credibility of Europe's entire economic strategy is on the line at a summit this month, as EU member countries grapple with tough choices on reforming tattered fiscal rules and reviving faltering economic growth, analysts say.

AP - European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday he was optimistic an economic recovery across the European Union's euro zone would continue, adding that there was little risk of rising inflation.

AP - Both sides claimed victory Tuesday in a trade fight pitting the United States and Australia against the European Union, centering on the right of foreign exporters to use geographic food names such as Florida oranges or Idaho potatoes to describe their products in European markets.

AFP - European stock markets fell in early trading after a poor overnight showing by Wall Street and with investors cautious amid a decision by OPEC to hike oil production levels and ahead of Britain's annual budget, dealers said.

AFP - European stock markets mostly rose in early trading with London the sole loser, amid record high oil prices that risked weighing on global economic growth.

AFP - European stock markets rose in early trading, looking to end the week on an upbeat note after some rocky sessions owing to record high oil prices.

AFP - Portugal will seek financial aid from the European Union to help its farmers deal with a severe drought which is affecting most of the country, Foreign Minister Diogo Freitas do Amaral told reporters.

AFP - European Union (EU) finance minister are to make a last-ditch bid to agree reforms to the bloc's tattered fiscal rules, hoping to resolve stubborn rifts ahead of a summit later this week.

Reuters - EU finance ministers clinched a deal late on Sunday to relax much-flouted budget rules that underpin the euro, bowing to Berlin's key demand that its hefty unification costs be excused.

AFP - European Union leaders gather for their two-day spring summit here at which they will seek ways to give a shot in the arm to the bloc's struggling economy.

AFP - EU leaders rallied round French President Jacques Chirac calling for a revision of controversial EU economic reform plans which are fueling anti-EU sentiment in France ahead of a crucial vote.

AFP - Britain is seeking to delay a planned move by the European Union to lift its embargo on arms sales to China, the Financial Times reported.

AP - The U.S. dollar rose against the Japanese yen in early Asian trade Monday from its levels in New York on Friday, but was little changed against the euro as many players took to the sidelines after last week's Good Friday holiday in many U.S. and European markets.

AFP - Possible bids for the London Stock Exchange (LSE) could be delayed by a British competition watchdog report into whether it and Europe's other leading bourses are effective monopolies.

AFP - European stock markets fell in early trading, dragged down by a weak performance from Wall Street overnight.

AFP - German unemployment stuck above the politically critical 5.0-million mark, increasing pressure on Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's unpopular government less than two months before a key state election.