AFP - Trying to set up a grand European Union-style economic community for Asia "does not appear feasible" the president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Thursday.

AP - An economic and political integration in Asia based on the European Union model is unlikely at this stage because the region is too diverse, the president of the Asian Development Bank said.

FT.com - London equities tumbled on Monday, as steep losses on leading Asian exchanges overnight scotched hopes of a recovery after last week's steep falls.

AFP - The leading index of blue chip shares finished in positive territory after solid results from International Power and positive broker comment boosted Standard Life, dealers said Tuesday.

FT.com - Xstrata remained in focus on Wednesday amid rumours that the acquisitive mining group was weighing a move for Lionore Mining, a Canadian nickel producer valued at £1.5bn.

FT.com - European equities were lower on Friday as drugs, metals and mining groups slipped, and although the losses were less severe than those seen last week, strategists were cautious of calling an end to the recent market volatility.

FT.com - London equities fell in opening trade on Friday, unable to keep the momentum of the previous session after Asian markets fell overnight and Wall Street indices posted only small gains.

AFP - The leading share index closed in positive territory Monday as rumours that Barclays approached its European peer ABN Amro over a possible merger consolidated the financial and insurance blue-chips.

AFP - Senior EU and UN officials met with Palestinian finance minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday in a new sign of a gradual shift in policy towards the new unity government.

AFP - The euro fell against the dollar on Thursday on profit-taking a day after the European currency rose to its highest level against the greenback for two years.

AFP - EU finance ministers are to take stock of Europe's economic outlook on Monday and Tuesday for the first time since a major financial market rout rattled investor confidence worldwide.

FT.com - European bourses were driven by the auto sector on Tuesday as German carmaker Porsche raised its stake in domestic rival Volkswagen, while increasing speculation over a sale of Chrysler lifted its German parent.

AFP - London's FTSE 100 edged down by 0.01 percent to 6,292.10 points in late Wednesday morning trading, due to surging crude oil prices.

AFP - The number of people out of work in Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, fell by 114,000 to 4.108 million in March, the Federal Labour Agency said Thursday.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto stock market closed flat at the end of a volatile session as traders struggled to assess the damage the U.S. subprime mortgage market will cause to the wider economy.