UNITED KINGDOM

Crude oil fell on Monday from a record over $126 a barrel as slumping crude imports from China concerned investors that recent high prices may be weighing on demand.

The FTSE 100 share index rose on Thursday following news that the Bank of England decided to keep interest rates at 5.0 per cent. The index was up 9.8 points to 6,270.8 by the end of the day (up 0.2 per cent).

Royal Mail Group said on Thursday that it had delivered robust financial results in the year ended 30 March 2008, despite many challenges.

Sterling gained marginally after the Bank of England held interest rates at 5 percent.

Gold futures ended with strong gains on Thursday as record energy costs and weakness in the U.S. dollar boosted the demand for a hedge against inflation.

Best Buy Co., the largest U.S. electronics retailer, will open its first stores in Europe by paying $2.1 billion for a 50 percent stake in Europe's largest cell phone retailer, the companies announced Thursday.

Sterling fell against the dollar yesterday with weak consumer morale output and jobs figures keeping investors focused on a sharply slowing UK economy and the prospect of further interest rate cuts.

Thames Water on Wednesday announced its plan to prevent water shortages in the future and put a stop to hosepipe bans and other water restrictions.

Sterling closed marginally higher against the dollar yesterday while the market players awaited Thursday s key Central Bank policy meetings when the European Central Bank and the Bank of England will announce the results of interest rate policy meetings.

On Tuesday the Woolf Committee published a report on BAE Systems ethical business practices. The report comes following allegations of bribery around arms deals between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.

Lloyds TSB said on Tuesday that it was continuing to deliver good growth in its relationship banking business despite what it called a difficult period for financial services companies.

Vodafone Plc announced on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with Apple, Inc to sell its iPhone device in ten countries and two carriers in Italy.

Sterling witnessed a sluggish movement yesterday in the absence of any major data.

Sterling continued weak against the dollar on Friday after the release of Halifax house price survey which showed the first annual fall in property prices in around a decade boosting expectations for interest rate cuts.

Warren Buffet, the billionaire investor who heads Berkshire Hathaway Inc believes the U.S. dollar will continue to be weaker versus other currencies and was happy to invest in firms which didn't earn income in dollars.

Gold futures edged higher on Friday after recovering from earlier losses on a stronger dollar while posting a weekly loss of nearly $32 an ounce.

Sterling fell against the dollar yesterday as traders trimmed their bet on currency due to the strong recovery in the counterpart after the Fed decision on interest rate.

The FTSE 100 share index finished unchanged on Thursday, ending as it began the day at 6,087.3 points.

Copper fell over 5 percent today as the dollar rose against the euro, diminishing demand for commodities used to compensate for inflation.

Gold futures fell to a four-month low on Thursday as the dollar gained against the euro and dampened the investment appeal of the precious metal.

British Airways PLC said on Wednesday that it is considering opportunities of cooperating with American Airlines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc.