AFP - EU nations were set on Monday or Tuesday to adopt new sanctions against Iran targeting its financial institutions, especially the large Bank Melli, diplomatic sources said.

AFP - Leading shares closed higher on Monday, as the anticipation of a bounce on Wall Street turned the FTSE 100 around, with Shire a top blue chip riser following a Goldman Sachs upgrade.

Reuters - Stocks fell sharply on Friday with the Dow closing below 12,000 for the first time since mid-March as rising oil prices and warnings of more mortgage-related write-downs at banks reignited investor fears of worse to come.

Reuters - Stocks extended their losses on Friday after Standard and Poor's said it may cut the credit rating of the Big Three automakers, compounding banking-related jitters also driving the market lower.

AFP - France has put plans for European Union tax harmonisation on hold after Ireland's voters rejected the bloc's new reform treaty last week, finance minister Christine Lagarde said Thursday.

AFP - Ten ex-communist European Union newcomer states have "adjusted relatively well" to recent global financial stress, oil and food price spikes and slowing growth, the World Bank said on Wednesday.

AFP - European equity prices shot higher on Tuesday as oil prices retreated, helping to offset market concerns about soaring inflation and sliding investor confidence, traders said.

AFP - London's FTSE 100 index shot higher on Tuesday as oil prices retreated, helping to offset market concerns about soaring inflation, traders said.

AFP - Iran is not planning to move assets from European banks, a banking official said on Tuesday, rejecting reports it is making major withdrawals to dodge impending EU sanctions.

AFP - UK blue chips closed higher on Tuesday, supported by gains from banks and miners and by hopes a spike in UK CPI may be temporary, but the FTSE 100 index ended well off the session peak as Wall Street fell back after poor US PPI data.

AP - European Union nations agreed Monday on the need for a new round of sanctions to discourage Iran from developing nuclear weapons, targeting the country's oil and gas sectors in what would be the strongest punishment yet.