UNITED KINGDOM

Rich nations which make up the 'Group of Seven' endorsed a report by a group finance officials and regulators to commit to stricter supervision of the world's troubled financial system.

The FTSE 100 share index fell 69.6 points to 5,895.5 on Friday (down 1.2 per cent) after earlier gains nearly took the index above the 6000 point mark.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has announced a new scheme which it says could lift 100,000 households out of fuel poverty. The BERR said that it would be providing an extra £225 million to help meet the cost of rising fuel bills.

Electricite de France (EDF) is said to be considering making a bid for nuclear power company British Energy. According to Reuters a source close to the matter said the French company might enter the bidding, but would not overpay for the company.

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats has urged the government to resume an investigation into bribery allegations surrounding a £43 billion arms deal between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.

The FTSE 100 share index fell marginally on Thursday, dropping 18.8 points to 5,965.1 (down 0.3 per cent) after the Bank of England cut interest rates from 5.25 to 5 per cent.

The High Court gave a ruling on Thursday that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted unlawfully when it dropped a corruption inquiry into an arms deal involving BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.

Travel operator Thomas Cook has said that it expects to meet its expectations during the current financial year.

Reports say that German utility company RWE has made a takeover offer of £11 billion for nuclear power company British Energy. The deal values the company at 700 pence per share and would be worth £4 billion to the government who own 35 per cent of British Energy.

DSG International Plc, owner of Currys and PC World, has issued a profit warning for the second time this year.

Gold futures ended lower Thursday, as the dollar gained against the euro on speculation a sinking European economy may lead to a cut in borrowing costs.

World's largest tax advisory, audit and consultancy services provider, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has suggested that the emerging markets like India and China is fast becoming the hub of global economic activity with China likely to outpace the US by 2025.

The FTSE 100 share index edged down on Wednesday falling 6.3 points to 5,983.9 (down 0.1 per cent).

Dish Network Corp., the second biggest U.S. satellite television broadcaster accused News Corp.'s NDS Group of hacking the security code of Dish's access cards, causing damages worth $90 million.

Morley Fund Management, the asset management division of UK's largest insurer Aviva PLc, said Wednesday that it has signed a China joint venture agreement with China National Oils & Foodstuffs & Cereals Corp.(COFCO) Ltd and Dongguan Trust & Investment Co Ltd.

Capital One Financial Corp. will cut 750 U.K. jobs by the end of the year, it told employees on Monday.

The FTSE 100 share index fell early on Tuesday. At 08:34 on Tuesday the FTSE 100 was down 41.2 points to 5,973.6 (down 0.7 per cent).

BT Group has announced that the head of BT Retail will be succeeding Ben Verwaayen as chief executive of the group on 1 June 2008. Verwaayen is to leave the board of BT completely on 30 June.

Fox International Channels, News Corp.'s pay television unit outside the U.S., acquired a 56 percent stake in European online video advertising network Utarget in an effort to increase its international ad revenue.

Water regulator Ofwat said it was planning to fine Severn Trent Water £35.8 million for deliberately providing false information to the regulator and providing poor service to its customers.

From gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) to gold stocks to buying physical gold, investors now have several different options when it comes to investing in the royal metal.But what exactly is the pur...