AFP - London shares closed higher on Friday, after three consecutive days of losses, as banks and commodities gave the FTSE a boost.

AFP - EU finance ministers will propose on Saturday that the European Investment Bank boost lending to small- and mid-sized firms by half in 2008 and 2009 to 15 billion euros (21 billion dollars), according to a document seen Friday.

AFP - The euro on Thursday slid below 1.39 dollars for the first time in a year on heightened concerns about the weak European economy, dealers said.

Reuters - Questions remain over the sustainability of the U.S. economic recovery, French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said on Thursday as she played down the risk of recession at home.

AFP - The euro came under heavy pressure against the dollar and yen Thursday on increasing speculation that the eurozone will not be able to escape a recession later this year.

AFP - European stock markets slumped on Thursday in the wake of heavy falls in Asia, pulled down by sharp losses for the banks as the global economic outlook turns darker still, traders said.

AFP - London shares slumped on Thursday in the wake of heavy falls in Asia, pulled down by sharp losses for the banks as the global economic outlook turns darker still.

AFP - London shares slumped for the third day in a row on Thursday, pulled down by losses for retailers and banks as the global economic outlook turned darker still.

AFP - The pound benefitted from a weaker euro on Thursday on heightened concerns about the European economy.

AFP - Averting a recession in Europe will be the burning issue for EU finance chiefs meeting Friday and Saturday on the French Riviera as the euro and stocks tumble on fears of a downturn.

AFP - The euro fell to a fresh one-year low against the dollar in Asian trade Thursday on renewed fears over the health of the European economy, dealers said.

AFP - European stock markets fell slightly at the start of trading on Thursday, with London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares down 0.08 percent at 5,362.10 points.

AFP - European economic heavyweights Britain, Germany and Spain are headed for recession this year, the European Commission forecast on Wednesday.

AFP - Share prices in London slid in on Wednesday as ailing US investment bank Lehman Brothers unveiled huge write-downs linked to the subprime mortgage crisis.