UNITED KINGDOM

Asian stocks and oil prices retreated from their peaks on Tuesday and the dollar halted its slide as investors held their fire ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting, where an interest rate cut is widely expected. European stocks also looked set for a weaker start,

EBay division Skype and mobile phone group 3 have launched a mobile handset that allows Skype users to make free Internet calls to each other while on the move.

Thousands of borrowers are poised to challenge lenders over debt insurance, in what has been hailed a new consumer revolution against mis-selling and unfair charges.

Credit crunch or not, the allure of stellar growth and profits remains for investors.

Today in the UK, Delta Two, the Qatar based investment firm trying to takeover supermarket chain J Sainsbury’s, was given a deadline of 8th November 2007 to make a bid.The deadline was set by the Takeover Panel Executive at the request of both Sainsbury’s and Delta Two who both “agree that it is in the best interests of shareholders and colleagues to bring this process to a conclusion as soon as practicable”, according to a joint statement.Delta Two has made a 600p per share offer for Sainsbury’s, however in order to follow through with the offer, the company still needs an addition £500 million of extra equity.In a statement today the two parties said that Delta Two was trying to secure the extra funding from the Qatar Investment Authority and that as a result, “there can be no certainty that such funding will be forthcoming and, therefore, no certainty that an offer will be made.”Delta Two originally approached Sainsbury’s in July with an offer, however following the credit crunch the Sainsbury family, who own 18% of the shares were concerned that the offer had too much debt.Sainsbury’s is the third largest supermarket chain in the UK.

Insurer Pearl made a 4.9 billion pound ($10.1 billion) cash offer for rival Resolution on Friday, in a dramatic move aimed at thwarting a deal between Resolution and Standard Life agreed just hours earlier.

Insurer Standard Life has agreed to buy rival Resolution for 4.9 billion pounds ($10.1 billion), topping a competing offer and breaking up Resolution's planned merger with Friends Provident.

Oil major BP will pay $373 million to settle U.S. charges stemming from a deadly Texas refinery explosion and an Alaska oil spill, as well as allegations it manipulated propane markets, the government said on Thursday. The settlement comes as the company seeks to set a new course with a restructuring aimed at improving its record on safety and the environment.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc posted a narrower third-quarter loss, helped by sales of its key drug Soliris, sending its shares up nearly 8 percent in early electronic trade.

Today BP announced plans for changes to its North Sea organisation meant to secure a long-term future for the company’s oil and gas business in the UK.

Studying abroad has been accepted by more and more Chinese students and parents according to a new study.

The United States has entered a recession, according to highly-regarded investor Jim Rogers, who told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper on Wednesday he was switching out of the dollar and into yen, the yuan and the Swiss franc.

Australia slapped financial sanctions on Myanmar's generals and their families on Wednesday as supporters of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 12 years in captivity with protests in 12 cities across the world.

Umbro, the company which makes the sports kit for the England soccer team as well as for six of the UK Premier League clubs, has today agreed to a takeover by Nike in a £285 million deal.

Iraq pledged on Tuesday to rein in Kurdish rebels who are launching attacks on Turkey from mountain hideouts near the border after Ankara threatened to send forces into Iraqi territory to confront the guerrillas.

Insurer Prudential topped forecasts on Tuesday with a 10 percent rise in nine-month sales, as growth in Asia, driven by India and Taiwan, offset the impact of a weak dollar and a shrinking business at home.

Bank of China, the world's No. 6 bank by market capitalisation, is seeking acquisition opportunities to expand its British retail business, a senior executive said.

BP reported a 45 percent fall in third-quarter replacement-cost profit to $3.867 billion due to lower oil and gas production, problems at its refining division and fewer asset sales which had flattered the year-earlier result. Though also lower than the same period last year, BP's underlying profits were towards the top end of analysts' forecasts, helped by a lower tax rate.

Turkey's foreign minister will vow military action in northern Iraq unless Iraqi and U.S. forces crack down on separatist Kurdish guerrillas.

Tesco, Britain's largest retailer and Disney Consumer Products UK announced an agreement to jointly launch a range of co-branded food products.

Today, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling will be meeting with business leaders about his plans to reform the capital gains tax system.