U.K.'s FTSE 100 Drops Second Day, Led by Friends Provident, Punch Taverns

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks slid for a second day,
paced by Friends Provident Plc and Resolution Plc after the
insurers agreed to merge.

Punch Taverns Plc paced a decline in pub owners after
Goldman, Sachs & Co. removed the shares from its ``conviction
buy'' list. Antofagasta Plc led mining companies lower as the
price of copper fell in Shanghai.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

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.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.K. Stocks Including Marks & Spencer, Drax Rise; BHP Billiton Declines

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks including Marks & Spencer
Plc and Drax Group Plc advanced. Antofagasta Plc and BHP Billiton
paced declining shares.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index added 7.2, or 0.1 percent, to
6719.9 in London at 8:06 a.m. The FTSE All-Share Index added 2.9,
or 0.1 percent, to 3466.53. Ireland's ISEQ Index slipped 29.89 to
9403.08.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Shares Climb for Second Week, Paced by Commodities; Accor Rises

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for a second
week after a rally in commodity prices sent indexes of mining
and oil companies to records. Antofagasta Plc and Total SA paced
the advance.

Accor SA, Europe's largest hotel chain, led travel and
leisure shares higher after Hilton Hotels Corp. agreed to be
bought for $20 billion. Phone companies and utilities limited
gains in the region on concern central banks will continue to
lift interest rates.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.K. Stocks Rally, Paced By Antofagasta, Xstrata, Rio Tinto; ISEQ Slides

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks gained, led by
Antofagasta Plc. The owner of three copper mines in Chile rose to
a record after saying 2007 will be a ``good'' year as demand in
China, the world's biggest consumer of the metal, keeps prices
``firm.''

Rio Tinto Group and Xstrata Plc also climbed. J Sainsbury
Plc gained on renewed takeover speculation.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News