FTSE 100 Benchmark Index Drops, Paced by Rio Tinto; Punch Taverns Declines

(Bloomberg) -- The U.K. FTSE 100 Index dropped to a
two month low, paced by Rio Tinto Group and Antofagasta Plc as
copper prices retreated in New York.

Punch Taverns Plc led pub companies lower after Goldman,
Sachs & Co. removed the pub owner from its ``conviction buy''
list. Shares of British Energy Plc tumbled.


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U.K. FTSE 100 Index Increases, Led by Friends Provident on Merger Talks

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks rallied, led by Friends
Provident Plc after Resolution Plc said it is in ``advanced''
merger talks with the insurer. Prudential Plc and Legal & General
Group Plc rose after UBS AG recommended investors buy the shares.

Antofagasta Plc and Anglo American Plc paced gains in mining
companies. Barclays Plc rose after the bank increased its offer
for ABN Amro Holding NV.


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European Stocks Fall for First Time in Four Days; BG, Man Group Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for the first
time in four days after analysts downgraded oil companies and
investors speculated mounting U.S. mortgage losses will hamper
growth in the world's largest economy.

BG Group Plc and Statoil ASA paced a retreat in energy
stocks after a brokerage recommended selling the shares. Man
Group Plc and Lafarge SA led declines by financial stocks and
exporters. Anglo American Plc and Antofagasta Plc followed copper
and nickel prices lower.


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European Stocks Fall for First Time in Four Days; BG, Deutsche Bank Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for the first
time in four days after analysts downgraded oil companies and a
decline in metal prices pushed mining shares lower.

BG Group Plc and Statoil ASA paced a retreat in energy stocks
after a brokerage recommended selling the shares. Anglo American
Plc and Antofagasta Plc followed copper and nickel prices lower.
Deutsche Bank AG and Allianz AG led declines by financial stocks
before a report on U.S. producer prices that may provide clues
about inflation and the outlook for rates.


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European Stocks Fall; Deutsche Bank, France Telecom, Anglo American Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks declined for a third
day, led by financial shares and insurers, after the Bank for
International Settlements said central banks will need to keep
raising interest rates to quell inflation.

Deutsche Bank AG, Germany's largest bank, and insurer Axa SA
paced the drop. France Telecom SA fell the most in two weeks as
the French government is selling shares worth about 2.7 billion
euros ($3.6 billion). Anglo American Plc and Antofagasta Plc led
mining companies lower after Cazenove downgraded the stocks.


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U.K. Index Drops, Paced by Shares of Segro, Land Securities, DSG, Tesco

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell for a fourth day,
led by Segro Plc and Land Securities Group Plc among companies
that are most sensitive to higher interest rates. DSG
International Plc and Tesco Plc paced retailers lower.

Bradford & Bingley Plc led a decline by banks, while Vedanta
Resources Plc and Antofagasta Plc fell with the price of copper.


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