AFP - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero kicked off a visit to India with calls for closer trade ties between Asia's second fastest-growing economy and a key member of the European Union.

AFP - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero has kicked off a visit to India with calls for closer trade and political ties between Asia's second fastest-growing economy and a key member of the European Union.

AFP - It is "highly probable" that Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, will be able to bring its public deficit back within EU limits this year, finance minister Peer Steinbrueck has revealed.

AFP - European stocks rose as record US crude prices lifted energy companies, but gains were limited after falls in Tokyo and on Wall Street, and amid investor concerns over North Korea.

FT.com - European stocks were lower on Friday as investors nervously awaited US employment data for further clues on the likely direction of future US monetary policy.

Reuters - Italian stock market operator Borsa Italiana is ready to study a joint offer with Deutsche Boerse for Euronext , which has already agreed a $10 billion deal to merge with the NYSE, Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper said.

AFP - Slovenia seems set to leap over the last legal hurdle to joining the eurozone when EU finance ministers decide on Tuesday if it can take up Europe's single currency from next year.

FT.com - The London market drifted lower on Monday, pressured by falling oil stocks and Wall Street's sharp decline on Friday night.

FT.com - London equities opened in the red on Tuesday following overnight declines on Wall Street and in Asia. Telecoms stocks fell on the back of a profit warning from Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU) in the US late on Monday night.

FT.com - Strength in mining and gaming stocks helped the London equity market move higher in early trade on Wednesday, following a late rally on Wall Street.

FT.com - Insurers were in focus in early trade in London on Thursday after Aviva unveiled a $2.9bn cash offer for US life insurer AmerUS.

AFP - European stock markets extended losses but showed signs of resilience after sharp falls in Asia, with oil prices hitting all-time peaks above 78 dollars per barrel.

FT.com - London equities made a volatile start to the week on Monday as M&A speculation outweighed continued concerns over the escalating violence in the Middle East.

AFP - European equities fell as investors fretted over violence in the Middle East, while Internet poker company PartyGaming was hit by an on-line gaming scandal in the US.

AFP - European stock markets have risen because investors were reassured by signs that a cycle of rising US interest rates might be flattening out.

FT.com - European stocks began Friday's session with losses as inflation concerns returned to knock Wall Street stocks, while chipmakers fell following weaker-than-expected results from Germany's Infineon (NYSE:IFX).

AFP - European stock markets have climbed as a positive trading update from FTSE heavyweight Vodafone helped to offset disappointing earnings news in London, dealers said.

FT.com - London equities were little changed on Tuesday as investors reacted cautiously to a trading update from BP ahead of an expected announcement about CEO Lord Browne's retirement plans.

AFP - European stock markets rose in morning trading after Wall Street extended its rally overnight, but gains were limited in Paris after the share price of carmaker Peugeot plummeted.

FT.com - European equities dipped on Friday, in spite of some strong earnings and bid speculation, as investors took profits after the two-and-a-half-month highs hit in the previous session.

FT.com - Investors took profits in London on Monday following last week's strong showing from the FTSE 100.