UNITED STATES

GUS, set to split into two FTSE 100 companies next month, reported a slight slowdown in growth at its credit information business

U.S. buyout giant Blackstone looked poised on Thursday to win a 1.7 billion pound takeover battle for United Biscuits

Some of America's most prominent investment firms loaded up on shares in dozens of public companies even as the U.S. government stepped up probes into those companies use of option grants.

A new agreement was announced today between BP and Gazprom Marketing and Trading, the UK subsidiary of energy giant OAO Gazprom.

The FTSE 100 rose on Thursday after a stronger Wall Street close, driven by utilities as AWG surged 12 percent on news of a bid approach.

BT Group announced growth targets on Thursday for its Global Services business, which provides IT network services and is the former state monopoly's fastest growing division.

The Nikkei share average edged up 0.20 percent on Wednesday as Advantest Corp. and other chip stocks rose but consumer loan companies such as Credit Saison Co. fell on a report of tighter accounting rules.

Big oil companies were able to avoid paying the government billions of dollars in royalties normally due on drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico because of bureaucratic bungling at the U.S. Interior Department, the department's inspector general told Congress on Wednesday.

Sony Corp. said on Wednesday it will launch a DVD recorder using Blu-ray technology by the end of the year in Japan, fortifying its lineup of high-definition optical disc products.

Telecommunications company Verizon Communications Inc. said on Wednesday that officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, have agreed to let it sell Web-based video service to local residents and that it may drop its lawsuit against the county for blocking it.

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.

Oil dipped back below $64 a barrel on Wednesday as traders await the debate among members of the U.N. nuclear watchdog over Iran's atomic work.

Wall Street stocks are set for a muted start to Wednesday trade as investors consolidate positions after the push to four-month highs, with crude oil trading at $64 a barrel helping ease inflation concerns.

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.

Fund managers remain convinced the dollar is expensive and will fall against the Japanese yen

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.

Chile has been ranked as Latin America's most sustainable and ethical nation according to a study of more than 50 economic, social, corruption, legal, political and environmental indicators, which compare eight major Latin American countries.

Hewlett-Packard announced on Tuesday that its current chairwoman, Patricia Dunn, will step down in 2007, making way for the company's chief executive officer and president Mark Hurd to assume the role.

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