UNITED KINGDOM

The FTSE opened higher on Thursday, supported by mining and oil stocks, as traders reacted positively to renewed U.S. confidence following a near record breaking high on Wall Street on Wednesday.

HMV Group, which sells music, DVDs and books, said on Thursday its total like for like sales were down 3.7 percent, once the benefit of its recent acquisition of Ottakar's was taken out.

On Wednesday, Microsoft unveiled the pricing of its anticipated external Hi-Definition DVD (HD-DVD) player to be released for its Xbox 360 gaming console.

Barclays today announced that it had renewed its global title sponsorship of the Premier League.

A report from Datamonitor has revealed that the UK is the most indebted nation in all of Western Europe. All of one third of unsecured debt in Western Europe is because of the UK.

GlaxoSmithKline won a partial victory on Wednesday in its bid to stop Spanish drug wholesalers from re-exporting its medicines at high premiums.

Insurer Standard Life posted a first half operating profit below analyst forecasts on Wednesday, hit by an increase in provisions for customers cashing in policies

Hong Kong continues to be the preferred base for international companies to oversee their regional operations, a Census & Statistics Department survey suggests. The number of regional operations and local offices in Hong Kong operated by overseas and Mainland companies reached its highest-ever level this year, topping 6,350.

Migrant workers from Bulgaria and Romania will only be allowed gradual access into the United Kingdom after these two countries join the European Union, a UK government minister said Tuesday.

The USA has dropped from being the most globally competitive country in the world to being the sixth in a report by the World Economic Forum released today.

Enterprise Inns Plc today that it’s Board expected pretax profit and earnings per share to be in line with its expectations.

Entertainment Rights Plc today announced its interim results for the six months ended 30th June 2006.

Will the spending needed to prevent global warming cost the world more than just sitting back, or even enjoying the possible financial benefits of a hotter planet?

The United States fell to sixth place in the World Economic Forum's 2006 global competitiveness rankings, ceding the top place to Switzerland, as macroeconomic concerns eroded prospects for the world's largest economy.

Bus and train operator FirstGroup said on Tuesday it had a good first half with new franchises leading to a strong performance across its UK Rail division.

RHM reported tough trading at its preserves and baking products business on Tuesday and said annual profit would be even more skewed to the second half than last year

Over a third of homeowners expect to have to work into retirement just to pay off their mortgage, according to a survey.

RHM reported continued recovery in its Mr Kipling cakes brand on Tuesday, but said high wheat prices and marketing spend meant annual profit would be even more skewed to the second half than last year.

ArmorGroup International Plc the security services firm today announced it had landed a $5.6 million mine clearance contract in Lebanon.

Faced with mounting pressures of doing business in Silicon Valley, the venture capital industry is going global, albeit in stops and starts that reflect the risks of doing business in foreign lands.

Anthony Green, Chairman of PZ Cussons Plc, today made a statement at the shareholders AGM. In it he announced that operating profit before exceptional items had increased by 13% to £60.2m.