AFP - Leading shares closed lower, with banks suffering as a statement from Royal Bank of Scotland failed to inspire and HBOS fell below its rights issue price, and with Wall Street weaker in early trade, as oil prices rose.

AFP - European equities sank on Tuesday after sharper falls in Asia on widespread concern that sky-high oil prices will stoke inflation and force central banks to tighten credit, analysts said.

AP - President Bush and European allies on Tuesday threatened tougher sanctions to squeeze Iran's finances and derail its potential pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Bush said the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran would endanger world peace.

AFP - European markets held steady on Monday despite a slump in Asia, after a breathtaking surge in oil prices and shock jump in US unemployment sent Wall Street spinning and fanned fears of a US recession.

AFP - Leading shares closed lower Monday as banking stocks extended their losses after worrying news from Lehman Brothers, while a rally on Wall Street wasn't enough to push the FTSE 100 into positive territory.

AFP - Ireland holds a key referendum on a sensitive European Union treaty this week with rapidly slowing growth in the once-runaway Celtic Tiger economy preying on voters' minds.

Reuters - Oil surged, the dollar weakened and government debt turned strongly higher on Friday after an unexpected jump in the U.S. unemployment rate rattled investors who believe the American economy was recovering.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rallied Friday as energy companies garnered support from surging crude oil prices which boost their profits, analysts said.

AFP - Leading shares closed sharply lower, near the session low, as Wall Street plunged after the government reported a larger-than-expected jump in unemployment and the price of oil shot higher.

Reuters - The European Central Bank reinforced the view on Thursday that the only way for interest rates in most major economies to go is up when, like the U.S. Federal Reserve days earlier, it rang alarm bells on inflation.

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 - European equity markets struggled on Tuesday after sharp falls in Asia and the United States overnight, as traders seized on renewed concerns about the ongoing credit crunch and high inflation.

AFP - European stocks fell Monday as credit-crunch concerns resurfaced in the banking sector after Britain's Bradford & Bingley warned on profits and agreed to a US cash boost, dealers said.