Reuters - The euro zone's manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in over a year in October, a survey of 3,000 companies showed on Tuesday, strengthening the case for a hike in interest rates next month or in early 2006.

AFP - The number of people out of work in Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, fell in October, even after taking into account the usual seasonal pick-up in the labour market at this time of year.

FT.com - European stocks were expected to open higher on Thursday following a strong session on Wall Street, but some caution was expected ahead of the European Central Bank's decision on eurozone interest rates.

FT.com - European stocks were seen opening a little lower on Friday as investors take profits after the previous session's gains, but nerve-easing data on US inflation and expected gains for oil stocks could support the market.

FT.com - The European Commission will seek to make it more difficult for national authorities to protect domestic banks from foreign takeovers, Charlie McCreevy, the EU's single market commissioner, will tell finance ministers tomorrow.

AFP - Britain will do its best to get an equitable deal on EU spending plans for 2007-2013, Prime Minister Tony Blair said as he reiterated London's reluctance to give up its EU budget rebate.

FT.com - London equities markets made further gains in opening trade on Tuesday, with the heavily weighted mining sector at the forefront of the advance on a busy day for corporate newsflow.

AFP - European stock markets mainly eased in early trading after Wall Street ended lower overnight, and as attention switched to telecoms after Swisscom confirmed a possible investment in Irish group Eircom.

AFP - European stock markets rose in early trading, though London was the steadiest of the main indices on caution before the Bank of England's latest decision on interest rates.

FT.com - European stocks are expected to move higher on Friday following strong overnight gains on Wall Street and with help also from a further decline in oil prices.

AFP - European stock markets steadied in early trading after a rally last week, with mining stocks providing support in London.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose in early trading, except London which was held back by profit warnings from FTSE 100 heavyweights Vodafone and Diageo.

FT.com - European stocks were set to open lower on Wednesday after a overnight declines on Wall Street and following widespread weakness across the European telecoms sector on Tuesday.

Canadian Press - BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union lowered its growth forecast for the year to 1.5 per cent for the entire EU and 1.3 per cent for the 12 countries using the euro on Thursday.

AFP - European stock exchanges jumped as they mirrored multi-year highs on Wall Street and in Japan, with London's FTSE 100 index hitting a four-and-a-quarter year high amid a mining rally and weak oil prices.

Reuters - European Union foreign ministers will vent mounting anger on Monday at the British EU presidency's go-slow tactics on the bloc's long-term budget, three weeks before a crucial summit on future financing.

AFP - European stock exchanges mostly rose in early deals, but London trading was dragged down by negative news over drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline and profit-taking from last week's strong gains.

AFP - British finance minister Gordon Brown warned France that it must agree to reform of the EU's farm subsidies to seal an EU budget deal and help the world's poor, the Financial Times newspaper said.

AFP - The FTSE 100 neared four-and-a-half year highs, as gains in blue chip pharmaceuticals helped offset heavy selling in crude stocks.

FT.com - European stocks were set to extend this week's strong run on Thursday as eurozone rate-hike expectations were cooled, but activity was seen being light with US markets shut for Thanksgiving.

AFP - The British economy grew by 0.4 percent during the third quarter of 2005 from the previous three-month period. The figure was unchanged from an initial estimate last month.

AFP - Slovakia has joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) as a first step towards adopting the European Union's common euro currency, finance ministry spokesman Peter Papanek has announced.

AFP - Economic indicators for the eurozone to be released this week are expected to show that inflation remains well above the European Central Bank's medium-term target and that business and consumer confidence have stabilised, economists said.

FT.com - European equity markets were set for a muted start on Monday after the FTSE Eurofirst 300 reached a 3½ year high with a rise of 1.4 per cent last week to 1,248.20.

FT.com - European equity markets were expected to open in negative territory on Tuesday following overnight declines in Wall Steet and Asia.

FT.com - European equity markets were set for a weaker start on Wednesday after a mixed perfomance overnight on Wall Street as US stocks failed to respond to a raft of positive economic data and lower oil prices.