AFP - European stock markets rose, shaking off disappointing US jobs figures which nonetheless pointed to slow but steady economic expansion.

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 rose in early trading at the start of the second financial quarter, shrugging off a weak overnight showing by Wall Street owing to a renewed surge in oil prices.

AFP - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced firm opposition to European Union (EU) plans to lift a 16-year-old arms embargo on China, amid worsening ties between Tokyo and the economic giant.

AFP - European stock markets rose in early dealing with Reckitt Benckiser, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant, holding pole position in London on positive broker comment.

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 - The FTSE 100 closed in the black as strong interims from HSBC boosted the heavyweight banking sector and as M and A speculation boosted fund managers, dealers said.

FT.com - European stocks were expected to open higher on Thursday after a strong overnight rally on Wall Street, and as crude oil prices slipped from recent record levels.

Reuters - European Union deadlock over the terms for opening historic entry talks with Turkey deepened on Monday with Austria insisting Ankara should be offered a status short of full membership.

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.

AP - The European Central Bank is poised to adjust the euro zone's interest rate Thursday for the first time in more than two years, likely voting for an increase to head off what it said were fears of inflation down the road.

AFP - European stock markets started the new year on the upbeat, amid quiet trading thin on corporate news as the major bourses in London, Tokyo and New York were closed for a holiday.

FT.com - European equities fell on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve deflated hopes of an end to US interest rate increases, while internet giant Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) fell short of expectations with its quarterly earnings.

FT.com - London equities opened in positive territory on Wednesday as strength in the oil and gas sector helped the FTSE shrug off weakness from banks after full-year results from HBOS disappointed investors.

AFP - Germany has finally turned the corner and appears to be on the way to regaining its role as the motor of the European economy, analysts say.

FT.com - London equties moved firmly back into positive territory on Tuesday, with oil and mining stocks leading the recovery at the start of a shortened week.

AP - Japanese stocks rebounded modestly from three-month lows Thursday, led by exporter and bank shares, as investors were encouraged by recoveries in U.S. and European markets overnight.

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.

FT.com - European equities were flat on Tuesday, as mixed results from the likes of Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB), HBOS and Allied Irish Banks created uncertainty over future earnings in the financial sector.

FT.com - BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) and Rio Tinto investors breathed a sigh of relief on Friday following news that striking workers at La Escondida, the world's largest copper mine in Chile, had voted to accept a new labour contract and end their industrial action.

FT.com - European stocks were higher on Monday as fresh merger talk emerged, boosting the likes of EDP (NYSE:EDP), the Portuguese power generator and Ahold, the Dutch retailer.

FT.com - London equities moved higher in opening trade on Wednesday as investors gave a warm reaction to Cairn Energy's plans to float its Indian business.

FT.com - European equities were higher on Friday, led by French power supplier EDF after a court criticised government energy tariff controls.

AP - Slovenia adopted the euro on Monday, becoming the 13th EU nation to use the single European currency.

FT.com - The FTSE 100 had one of its most unusual days in recent years on Thuesday. Not a single constituent closed in negative territory as the London market enjoyed one of its strongest sessions in 2007.

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.

AFP - European economic growth could prove to be stronger than expected thanks to an "intense recovery" underway, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia told AFP in an interview.

AFP - Most major European markets were shut for a public holiday on Tuesday with the exception of London, where the FTSE 100 index of leading shares drifted lower in initial deals.

BusinessWeek Online - Euro zone property markets have started to cool as a result of the European Central Bank's rate policy. The latest annual data, published in the ECB's May monthly report, show that euro zone house prices rose 6.0% year over year in the second half of 2006, down from 6.9% year over year in the first half. This means 2006 property price inflation slowed to 6.4% from 7.9% in 2005. The 12-country average conceals a certain amount of heterogeneity, but it appears that most countries saw moderation.

Reuters - China's sweeping new labor law will improve workplace conditions without deterring foreign investment, the European Union Chamber of Commerce said on Sunday.

FT.com - The European Central Bank on Thursday signalled the cost of borrowing in the eurozone would rise again soon, with most economists tipping on a now-traditional quarter-point rise in the main rate to 4.25 per cent in early September.

AFP - The crisis in the US subprime mortgage market will not have a discernable effect on on EU growth in 2007, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said here Monday.

AFP - The leading share index posted solid gains as investors shrugged off profit warnings from major investment banks Citigroup, Credit Suisse and UBS to focus on the mining and house building sectors, dealers said Monday.

FT.com - The global sell-off on equities markets continued in London on Friday, as investors pulled more money out of financial stocks amid fresh worry about losses relating to the US subprime lending crisis.

AFP - France's Dassault Aviation will move some of its activities out of the eurozone because of the high level of the European currency against the dollar, the company's chairman said in an interview published Saturday.

AFP - The Mediterranean island states of Cyprus and Malta welcomed in the new year with a new currency on Tuesday, taking the number of countries now using the euro to 15.

Canadian Press - TORONTO - Wall Street stock index futures were modestly positive Monday morning as European markets rose following strong gains in Asia as traders were encouraged by market advances last week.

AFP - Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Monday for a week-long trip to Britain, Ireland and Germany, aiming to deepen economic relations with the EU countries, the foreign ministry said.

AFP - The number of unemployed in Germany fell by 110,000 to 3.5 million people in March owing to improving economic conditions and seasonal effects, the national labour office said on Tuesday.

AFP - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon insisted here Friday that the French and European economies are sound, but that the US economic slowdown will effect Europe's growth.

AFP - The British economy is likely to lose some steam in the coming months but the Bank of England should avoid further interest rate cuts in the face of rising inflation, the OECD said Wednesday.

AFP - Fast asleep in the forests of the Rhodope mountains, this former miners' town, like a lot of other near-forgotten places in Bulgaria, is hoping for an EU financial kiss to waken from its slumber and start pulling in the tourists.

BusinessWeek Online - For most of August, business across Europe grinds to a halt as Germans, Italians, and the rest of the Continent head off for month-long vacations. This year, Europe's sun-seekers may want to savor their time away from the office a little more than usual. That's because bad economic news awaits their return to work as the euro zone -- the 15-country bloc that uses the euro as its currency -- moves headlong toward recession.

AP - The European Union will postpone talks scheduled with Russia this month on a wide-ranging political and economic agreement unless Russian troops pull back from positions in Georgia in line with a cease-fire agreement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says.

AP - Anglo-Swiss mining giant Xstrata PLC dropped its US$10 billion bid for British rival Lonmin PLC on Wednesday, saying the turmoil on the financial markets makes a takeover of the world's No. 3 platinum producer too risky.

AP - Commerzbank AG said Monday it will use funds from the German government's bailout package to strengthen its capital base.