Reuters - Britain set the stage on Friday for a clash on the future of the European Union by calling a special summit to debate the direction of a bloc that is facing financial deadlock and suffering an identity crisis.

AFP - Britain took on the presidency of the crisis-torn European Union, promising conciliatory leadership even as it renewed a bitterly contested drive for economic reform of the bloc.

AP - Stock markets were up slightly Monday across Europe and Asia, with a resurgent dollar propelling exports and automaker issues while rumors of mergers and sales boosted some telecoms and broadcasters.

AFP - CBI director-general Sir Digby Jones piled the pressure on the Bank of England to shore up the British economy by lowering interest rates this week, a newspaper reported.

AFP - European stock markets dipped in early dealing as the cost of oil soared to new record high points above 61 dollars per barrel, weighing on investor sentiment.

AP - Stocks opened higher in Europe on Friday, a day after a series of terrorist blasts in London's transportation system rattled markets, with insurance and travel-related stocks regaining some of the ground they lost.

AP - Britain's economy is resilient enough to absorb the shock of a terrorist attack on its transportation system, economists said, a sentiment seen Friday as markets throughout Europe shrugged off much of their losses from a day earlier.

AP - The impact of high oil prices on economic growth and troubling budget deficits in Italy and Portugal topped the agenda at Monday's meeting of European Union finance ministers.

AP - The European Commission said Wednesday it was not ready to grant market economy status to China — a move that would help Beijing avoid punitive antidumping measures.

AP - The European Commission rebuked Britain on Thursday for proposed cuts in next year's European Union budget, saying they would undermine efforts to help poor nations and modernize Europe's economy.

AFP - European stock markets rose slightly in early trading after surging the previous day and following a further strong overnight performance on Wall Street.

Reuters - Germany's top court blocked the extradition of a suspected al Qaeda financier to Spain, ruling on Monday that a key instrument in the European Union's fight against terrorism breached the constitution.

FT.com - European stocks were poised to move higher at the open on Tuesday after oil prices fell overnight on easing supply concerns, and with technology shares likely to benefit after strong results from computer giant IBM.

Reuters - Studies on the future of the euro zone make gloomy reading these days.

AFP - Eastern European nations are enduring an economic hangover after enjoying an investment and production boom ahead of their accession to the EU last year, the World Bank said.

AFP - The British economy continued to slow in the second quarter of the year.

FT.com - European bourses were heading for a higher open on Monday, with earnings high on the agenda as the likes of LVMH, the luxury goods group, UK mobile operator Vodafone and truckmaker Volvo report.

AP - Peugeot SA said Tuesday its net profit fell 21 percent in the first half of 2005 as new models failed to offset a surge in raw material costs and price competition in sluggish European markets.

FT.com - Shares in Europe made modest gains on Wednesday as the telecoms sector continued to outperform the market and the corporate earnings season got into full swing.

FT.com - European stocks were set to climb on Friday after Wall Street closed higher, but gains could be capped as oil prices moved back above $60 a barrel and as investors awaited US growth data.

Reuters - The former head of the European Central Bank, Wim Duisenberg, was found dead near Orange in the south of France, French police said on Sunday.