UNITED KINGDOM

The government is likely to announce an easing of air travel rules next week after security was tightened last month

Today it was announced that the British Government will be introducing legislation to ensure that the London Stock Exchange will continue to be governed by what Treasury Secretary Ed Balls described as a “light touch risk based regulatory regime.”

The FTSE was flat on Wednesday as a rise in retailers led by Next and Marks & Spencer failed to inspire and as a lacklustre performance from heavyweight mining and oil stocks weighed.

Film studio owner Pinewood Shepperton plc, famed for the James Bond and Harry Potter films, unveiled a joint venture to develop its business as it reported a big jump in first half profits.

MyTravel Group said on Wednesday its annual profit would be less than previously expected following difficult trading conditions

Clothing retailer Next Plc posted a 3.6 percent increase in first half protect profits on Wednesday, as a surge in its catalogue and Internet business helped offset a drop in samem store sales.

BAE Systems said on Wednesday its core first half earnings rose by 39 percent helped its U.S. operations, including a one off accounting gain there.

The FTSE 100 edged higher on Wednesday, led by Next after it reported results well ahead of consensus estimates, but weighed down by miners after a decline in metal prices.

Budget airline easyJet announced today that its forward bookings had returned to normal levels. However there was still concern that the increase in security demands

McDonald's announced on Tuesday its worldwide restaurant comparable sales have increased by 6 percent in August from 3.4 percent last year.

Strong rises in the cost of toys and games pushed the inflation rate up more than expected in August, reinforcing expectations that interest rates will rise again before the end of the year.

The FTSE 100 reversed early losses on Tuesday as fresh tensions in the Middle East saw investors return to beleaguered mining stocks on the prospect of more stable commodity prices.

According to Airport operator BAA, there was a 0.3% increase in British passenger numbers in August. Following the plot to blow up airliners last month, BAA spent an additional 13 million pounds to introduce tighter security.

The inflation rate picked up more than expected in August, boosted by strong rises in toys and computer games

Low cost airline easyJet said on Tuesday it expected tighter security arrangements at UK airports to affect demand.

Chocolate retailer Thorntons Plc posted a 36 percent drop in full year profits on Tuesday because of sluggish high street demand

Thomas Cook, Europe's second biggest tourism firm, said on Tuesday it had narrowed its loss in the first nine months of the year by 21 percent as it cut costs and the number of holidaymakers in Germany rose.

The British government won a partial victory on Tuesday as the top EU court said it could stop companies from making wholly artificial arrangements to avoid tax by setting up foreign units.

The FTSE 100 index edged lower on Tuesday on fresh tensions in the Middle East and as lower copper prices saw miners turn in another weak start.

Drax Group Plc, which owns Europe's largest coal fired power station, said on Tuesday its first half earnings had more than tripled

Nationwide, the world's biggest building society, is set to merge with rival Portman