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Barclays Plc has taken 8.2 billion euros ($10.9 billion) of the European Central Bank's (ECB) long-term refinancing operation (LTRO), which offers three-year loans to banks at a rate of 1 percent, in order to manage funding gaps in Spain and Portugal.

The latest Arsenal transfer news concerns rumored interest from AC Milan and Inter in Arsenal target Lukas Podolski

Tottenham's Gareth Bale will be out of action for up to three weeks after tearing his hamstring while on international duty with Wales, according to reports.

Manchester United transfer news today concerns the future of Dimitar Berbatov and the reaction from Tito on being linked with an Old Trafford switch.

Liverpool Transfer news today has speculation that the Reds are scouting French under-21 star Remy Cabella.

Where to watch a live stream of the England vs. Holland 2012 friendly, plus a full preview of the exhibition game taking place at Wembley on Wednesday.

The European Central Bank gave the world's financial system a €529.5 ($712) billion Leap Year Day gift, providing financial institutions with that amount in one percent-interest, three-year loans this week, the bank announced Wednesday morning.

Manchester United transfer news today focuses on speculation that United are scouting Serbian starlet Alen Stevanovic, one dubbed the new Cristiano Ronaldo.'

CVC Capital Partners is to buy Nordic construction products and machinery distributor Ahlsell from Cinven and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners for 1.8 billion euros ($2.4 billion), in Europe's biggest private equity deal since last summer.

Market participants are seemingly expecting European banks to take up a massive amount of euro over the next 24 hours, as the European Central Bank offers them a second helping of ultra-low cost loans. The banks themselves, not so much.

The Nets reportedly remain Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard's favored destination to play elsewhere, especially after what Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant recently said about him, on top of the Magic's rejection of a trade for Howard involving Lakers center Andrew Bynum.

Barclays Plc said any retrospective change to UK tax laws would not have a material impact on its profits and said it alerted the UK government to a tax efficient scheme it used, sparking a government clampdown on the tax schemes.

Barclays Plc said it was the bank at the centre of a clampdown by Britain on two tax avoidance schemes that the government said would close loopholes and raise more than 500 million pounds ($792 million) in tax.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has for the first time spoke of his fear that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will sack him after the club's poor run of form.

The prices of gasoline and other energy commodities are on the rise -- with further increases just over the horizon -- and it appears that everyone is taking notice.

While Kate Middleton has skyrocketed to fame with her royal wedding to Prince William, another member of her family, Katrina Darling, has recently gained publicity as well. Darling, a distant cousin of British royal Kate Middleton, is bringing her racy burlesque dancing act to New York this March. Take a look at pictures of Kate Middleton's sexy second cousin who models lingerie and racy burlesque outfits.

Asian shares crept higher Friday as solid U.S. data improved sentiment, but gains may be limited by concerns that rising oil prices could deal a further blow to the fragile euro zone economy and moves to take profits after recent rallies.

While Wall Street slashes pay and freezes cash awards, Goldman Sachs Group's top five executives may reap special bonuses of $10.5 million apiece if the firm hits historically easy profit targets over the next two years.

Real estate mogul Sam Zell's Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) has raised its minimum bid for a 26.5 percent stake in the long-running battle for control of Archstone, owner of more than 70,000 U.S. apartment units. Earlier this week, the minimum bid was raised to $1.48 billion from $1.32 billion by Bank of America Corp. and Barclays Plc, which own the minority stake in the company. The banks also extended the deadline for Equity's option to buy the stake to April 19 from Feb. 19.

Wireless tower operator SBA Communications Corp will buy more than 2,300 tower sites and some antenna assets from Mobilitie LLC for about $1.09 billion, as it looks to benefit from an explosion in data traffic and arm itself better against larger competitors.

Wireless tower operator SBA Communications Corp will buy more than 2,300 tower sites and some antenna assets from Mobilitie LLC for about $1.09 billion, as it looks to benefit from an explosion in data traffic and arm itself better against larger competitors.

Asian markets rose across the board Monday as policy easing by China and expectations that Greece will secure a second bailout buoyed investor appetite for riskier assets, sending U.S. crude up nearly 2 percent and copper nearly 3 percent higher.

Markets jumped Monday as policy easing by China and prospects for Greece to clinch a second bailout fund buoyed investor appetite for riskier assets, sending U.S. crude up nearly $2 a barrel and Asian shares up nearly 1 percent.

The U.S. consumer price index rose less than forecast in January as prices for household energy and used automobiles cooled, supporting the Federal Reserve's view that inflation will remain in check.

Following Arsenal's 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Milan yesterday, manager Arsène Wenger has slammed the occasion as his side's worst night in Europe.

Moody's Investors Service placed 114 financial firms , as well as 17 banks and securities firms with global capital markets operations, under ratings review due to the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

A current rally in the sprawling $7.74 trillion field for corporate bonds, which are issued as debt by major American corporations, belies a great churning occurring just beneath the market's surface. Recently, Richard Prager, who heads the bond strategy desk at the world's largest asset management firm, put it succinctly: "Houston, we got a problem."

Moody's warned on Thursday it may cut the credit ratings of 17 global and 114 European financial institutions in another sign the impact of the eurozone government debt crisis is spreading throughout the global financial system.

Asian shares and the euro fell Thursday as another delay in cementing a crucial bailout for stricken Greece underscored how far Europe is from resolving a debt crisis that threatens the stability of the financial system.