UNITED KINGDOM

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday the country will freeze assets of Iran's largest bank in a further move to discourage the country from developing nuclear weapons, after which he also announced additional troops for Afghanistan.

The FTSE 100 share index rose early on Thursday. By 9:18 am the index had risen 0.6 per cent by 34.7 points to 5,758.9.

US coffee chain Starbucks has announced its intentions to open 150 new outlets in Britain, France and Germany in the next three years in a deal with SSP. SSP is a UK group which runs Burger King and Pizza Hut stores.

Home Retail Group, owner of Homebase and Argos, said on Thursday that like for like sales in Homebase stores fell 12 per cent in the 13 weeks to 31 May to £440 million.

Carphone Warehouse profits were up 75 per cent to £216 million in the year ended 29 March 2008, the telecoms company said on Thursday. Revenue for the group also rose by 12 per cent to £4,474 million.

The UK is to become the subject of disciplinary proceedings from the European Commission as its budget deficit continues to grow.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) said on Wednesday that its results for the first six months of the year should be satisfactory and in line with previous guidance.

Five deaths and 720 adverse reactions in the U.K. were linked to the anti-obesity drug Acomplia made by Sanofi Aventis SA, said a regulator in the country.

BP Plc refused a demand from its partners to oust the chief executive of its TNK-BP Ltd joint venture in Russia, according to a report.

BSS Group Plc said on Wednesday that its pre-tax profit for the year ended 31 March 2008 had risen 23.3 per cent to £58.3 million, with revenue up 27.4 per cent to £1,289.0 million.

Burberry Plc said on Wednesday that its profits had risen 14 per cent to £206.2 million in the full year to 31 March 2008. The fashion retailer also said that total revenue had risen 18 per cent to £995 million.

The FTSE 100 share index fell 94.3 points on Friday to 6,087.3 (down 1.5 per cent).

Publishing company, Future Plc, said on Friday that it's pre-tax profit for the half year ended 31 March 2008 increased 17 per cent.

Women's apparel retailer Talbots Inc posted higher-than-expected quarterly operating profit on Wednesday and reiterated its full-year earnings forecast, causing the shares to rise.

Marks and Spencer (M&S) said on Tuesday that its pre-tax profit for the full year ended 29 March just exceeded £1 billion, an increase of 4.3 per cent from the previous year.

CLS Holdings said on Thursday that it had made property sales of £47.4 million in the period from 1 January to 14 May this year. The company added that the leasing market remained stable and that it had lower vacancy rates in the period.

Supermarket giant Tesco said on Wednesday that it acquired 36 Homever stores in South Korea from the E-Land Group for £958 million, including existing debt.

J Sainsbury said on Wednesday that its total retail sales for the full year to 22 March 2008 had risen 5.8 per cent to £19,287 million. The supermarket chain said that like for like sales were up 3.9 per cent.

Apple Inc. said Monday its iPhone's are currently unavailable'' from its online store in the U.S. and U.K. and did not say when it will replenish its inventory, which is fueling rumors that a new improved version of the iPhone will soon be launched.

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).