Europe shares down by midday; credit outweighs M&A

(Reuters) - European shares traded down by midday on Monday, led by financial stocks as they bore the brunt of concerns over credit markets and by oil shares, which tracked a fall in crude.

At 1035 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.4 percent, heading for its eighth day of losses in the last 10 sessions and off 7.7 percent from a 6-1/2 year high of 1,635.58 on July 13.


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FTSE dips, tracking Wall St. on credit concerns

(Reuters) - Britain's top share index dipped early on Monday on fresh concerns over global credit markets after Bear Stearns said it was weathering the worst storm in financial markets in more than 20 years.

At 0738 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 21.1 points, or 0.34 percent, at 6,203.2, having closed 1.2 percent lower on Friday.


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U.K.'s FTSE 100 Drops for Second Day; Northern Rock, Rolls-Royce Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell for a second day.
Northern Rock Plc, a mortgage lender, and Rolls-Royce Group Plc,
the world's second-biggest aircraft-engine maker, led the
retreat.

The FTSE 100 Index declined 56.2, or 0.9 percent, to 6168.1
at 8:04 a.m. in London.


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Barclays, HSBC, Beazley, Pearson, EMI Group Plc: U.K., Irish Stock Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from the last market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index dropped 36.00, or 0.6 percent,
to 6215.20. The FTSE All-Share Index declined 18.24, or 0.6
percent, to 3210.69.


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European shares bounce back, carmakers rally

(Reuters) - European shares reversed early sharp losses on Friday to rise nearly 0.7 percent on the day as robust corporate results from car makers helped offset worries over the credit market and the health of the U.S. economy.

At 0901 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 0.58 percent, at 1,536.49 points, after falling more than 1 percent in early trade. It dropped 2.8 percent on Thursday on signs of deteriorating conditions for corporate buyouts and further weakness in the U.S. housing market.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, dollar stabilise after battering

(Reuters) - Credit spreads narrowed after blowing out earlier this week
on troubles at the U.S. high-risk subprime mortgage sector. U.S.
stock futures pointed to a firmer open on Wall Street a day
after posting their worst one-day performance since March.




The FTSEurofirst 300 index turned slightly into
positive territory after hitting a one-month low. U.S. stock
futures also rose after Web retailer Amazon.com
reported strong profit and raised its outlook.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Equities rebound but credit worries remain

(Reuters) - Credit spreads in Europe tightened after widening some 30
basis points a day earlier.




The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares
rose 0.8 percent, as did London's FTSE 100 index ,
Frankfurt's DAX and Paris's CAC 40 .


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GlaxoSmithKline, Invesco, Sainsbury and BP: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from yesterday's market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 92, or 1.4 percent, to
close at 6567.10 in London. The FTSE All-Share Index declined
42.45, or 1.2 percent, to 3395.74.


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European shares slip in early trade, oils weigh

(Reuters) - European stocks slipped early on Tuesday, led lower by oil shares, as investors continued to worry about the U.S. economy and hunkered down for key inflation data releases that could provide clues on interest rates.

At 0723 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.4 percent at 1,623.67 points.


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BG Group, Kingfisher, Burberry, RBS and Shell: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from yesterday's market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 81.80, or 1.2 percent, to
close at 6630.90 in London. The FTSE All-Share Index declined
40.70, or 1.2 percent, to 3422.92.


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European stocks steady, M&S up on buoyant update

(Reuters) - European stock markets edged up in early trade on Tuesday, with British retailer Marks & Spencer taking pole position with a 3 percent jump after its trading update beat market estimates.

By 0715 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was 0.1 percent stronger at 1,627.3, extending a two-day winning run and up nearly 10 percent so far this year.


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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.


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FTSE 100 Advances, Paced by Tate & Lyle, British Energy and Xstrata

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks advanced, paced by Tate &
Lyle Plc, British Energy Group Plc and Xstrata Plc.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index rallied 21.8, or 0.3 percent,
to 6711.9 in London at 8:06 a.m. The FTSE All-Share Index added
9.88, or 0.3 percent, to 3464.01. Ireland's ISEQ Index rose 9.87
to 9461.03.


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Greene King, Cybit, Alphameric, Waterford: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from the market close yesterday.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 17.30, or 0.3 percent, to
close at 6590.60 in London as 27 stocks rose, 74 fell and two
were unchanged. The FTSE All-Share Index declined 7.37, or 0.2
percent, to 3396.77.


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Commods fuel FTSE recovery in global stocks bounce

(Reuters) - Britain's leading shares jumped 0.7 percent on Thursday, with commodities hoisting the index into the black as global equities took heart from a rebound on Wall Street.

All FTSE 100 mining and oil shares traded higher, adding nearly 20 points to the index's upside as copper bounced back and oil edged higher as U.S. gasoline inventories fell.


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FTSE dips 0.5 pct on US subprime concerns, BAE

(Reuters) - Britain's top share index fell 0.5 percent early on Tuesday, tracking losses in U.S. and Asian markets as worries over U.S. subprime mortgages persisted, while BAE Systems sank on news of a corruption probe.

At 0741 GMT the FTSE 100 was down 31.5 points, or 0.48 percent at 6,556.9, moving back into negative territory after breaking a five-day lossing streak on Monday as financial and commodity shares weighed. European shares also slipped.


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U.K. Stocks Drop, Paced by Shares of BAE Systems and Cadbury Schweppes

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell. BAE Systems Plc,
Europe's biggest weapons maker, led the retreat after saying the
U.S. started an investigation into the company's compliance with
anti-corruption laws.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index lost 33.1, or 0.5 percent, to
6555.30 as of 8:05 a.m. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 18.09, or
0.5 percent, to 3380.29. Ireland's ISEQ Index slipped 30.61, or
0.3 percent, to 9354.


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Asian stocks sag, yen under pressure

(Reuters) - European shares were seen also tracking U.S. peers lower with financial bookmakers expecting falls of 24 to 33 points for London's FTSE 100 index , 30 to 44 points for Germany's DAX and 25 to 32 points for France's CAC 40 .




Demand for high-yielding currencies kept the yen pinned near an all-time low versus the euro and a 4-1/2-year low against the dollar. The Bank of Japan, unlike other central banks, was seen in no hurry to raise interest rates.


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FTSE ticks up; slower sales growth hits Tesco

(Reuters) - The UK's leading share index ticked higher on Tuesday as miners steamed ahead but Britain's largest retailer Tesco slid after announcing a slowdown in UK sales growth.

By 0743 GMT the FTSE 100 was up 8.1 points, or 0.12 percent, at 6,711.6.


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European shares mixed in early trade; ICI sparkles

(Reuters) - European shares were mixed early on Monday as acquisition talk spurred gains in British chemicals group ICI but French stocks underperformed after President Nicolas Sarkozy failed to win a forecast landslide in parliamentary polls.

At 0718 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.03 percent at 1,626.38 points, after rising 3.7 percent last week.


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