Untitled

SocGen star performer among European shares (FT.com)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:05:33 GMT

FT.com - Relentless bid and merger speculation and some encouraging corporate results helped push European stocks to fresh six-and-a-half year highs this week.

Dutch minister says ABN Amro bidders to get fair treatment (AFP)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:46:19 GMT

AFP - Dutch Finance Minister Wouter Bos insisted Friday that the central bank would review any foreign takeover bids for ABN Amro strictly on merit, amid EU concerns about protectionism.

FTSE 100 rises as Alliance Boots soars on takeover battle (AFP)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:48:38 GMT

AFP - The FTSE 100 closed in positive territory as it boosted by a bidding war for Alliance Boots which pushed the price of the pharmacy group up over 7 percent, dealers said Friday.

On London: UK shrugs off dollar pain (FT.com)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:10:47 GMT

FT.com - The pound bursting through $2. Inflation at 10-year highs. Interest rates heading upwards. There was plenty to damp sentiment in the UK stock market this week. Yet the FTSE 100 actually ended higher than it started.

European stocks rally on takeover activity (AFP)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:20:45 GMT

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rebounded strongly on Friday following two days of losses, as fervent takeover activity struck the pharmaceutical and banking sectors.

European stocks rally on merger talk (FT.com)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:56:45 GMT

FT.com - European equities recovered some of the previous session's losses as bid speculation in the banking and utilities sectors overshadowed concerns over China's likely actions to stem excessive growth.

FTSE gains as Boots leads the way (FT.com)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:25:34 GMT

FT.com - Alliance Boots was the leading gainer on Friday as the FTSE reversed two days of losses.

European stock markets rebound at open; London FTSE up 0.20 percent (AFP)
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:27:13 GMT

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose in opening deals on Friday following two days of losses.

Suspension of Romanian president brings uncertainty to new EU member, U.S. ally (Canadian Press)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:26:00 GMT

Canadian Press - BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - President Traian Basescu won the hearts of his people with his roguish charm, steering Romania into the European Union this year and attracting millions in foreign investment by opening up the economy.

TSX tumbles on worries about what China could do to cool growth; NY mixed (Canadian Press)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:42:00 GMT

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto stock market tumbled more than 130 points Thursday, just a day after hitting a new record close, in a broad-based decline led by resource stocks as investors worried that Chinese government moves to cool the economy and bring inflation down could dampen demand for commodities.

EU finance chiefs to focus on surge of euro (AFP)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:07:11 GMT

AFP - The soaring strength of the euro against leading currencies will be in the focus when EU finance ministers meet in Berlin for informal talks on Friday and Saturday.

Sharp falls for European equities (FT.com)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:00:28 GMT

FT.com - European stocks fell sharply on Thursday, with global interest rates the main focus of concern after strong Chinese growth raised fears of slowing demand if the country moves to cool its economy.

China fears drag FTSE lower (FT.com)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:45:34 GMT

FT.com - The FTSE 100 fell sharply for a second consecutive session on Thursday following heavy losses in Asian markets overnight.

EU hopes for Sarkozy but fears his nationalism (Reuters)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 08:57:18 GMT

Reuters - European Union officials are quietly hoping conservative Nicolas Sarkozy will win France's presidential election and move swiftly to reform EU institutions and modernize his country's shackled economy.

Weak commodity stocks lead FTSE lower (FT.com)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 08:06:07 GMT

FT.com - London markets were sharply lower in opening trade on Thursday, tracking heavy losses in Asia as gross domestic product data from China showed strong economic growth, rasing fears that the country might lift interest rates.

Rate fears hold FTSE back (FT.com)
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:50:56 GMT

FT.com - Carphone Warehouse bucked the weak market trend on Wednesday as short sellers closed positions ahead of next week's investor day.

FTSE 100 slips on interest rate fears (AFP)
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:07:54 GMT

AFP - The FTSE 100 index zig-zagged during a volatile trading session as fears of an imminent interest rate hike were calmed by a solid Wall Street, dealers said Tuesday.

London stocks hits six-year high (AFP)
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:41:47 GMT

AFP - London's FTSE 100 shares index is at the highest level for almost six and a half years as investors spied a potential bidding war for Dutch bank ABN Amro.