AFP - London's FTSE 100 index closed lower on Friday, ending a week which started with the index of leading shares striking a 2009 high.

AP - Although it is too early to say the crisis is over, it is time to withdraw some of the policy measures that supported the financial system through the credit crunch, the European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Friday.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets steadied on Friday one day after equities slumped on jitters regarding the economic outlook, traders said.

AP - World stock markets fell Friday amid mounting concerns about the pace of the U.S. economic recovery following a disappointing earnings update from computer maker Dell Inc.

AP - The lawyer for director Roman Polanski says his wife and two children are bearing the brunt of his Swiss imprisonment and that he has proposed "very significant" bail money, house arrest and other assurances to find freedom.

AFP - The FTSE 100 slipped on Thursday amid renewed concern about the strength of recovery from the worst global economic crisis in decades after some mixed data and forecasts.

AFP - London shares were falling on Thursday following losses in Tokyo and overnight on Wall Street, as investors digested mixed economic data and outlooks for the global economy.

AP - The director of a U.N. food agency questioned Wednesday how world powers could commit so much money to fighting the financial crisis and not to feeding the 1 billion hungry.

AFP - London shares rose on Wednesday, with miners boosted by a record high for gold prices, and after a mixed showing across Asia and fresh 2009 highs for Wall Street overnight.

AP - Royal pageantry met hard-nosed electioneering Wednesday, as Queen Elizabeth II donned the diamond-encrusted Imperial State Crown to announce the government's plans for the next parliamentary session.

AFP - The EU commission has invited General Motors and EU economic ministers to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the future the US automaker's Opel and Vauxhall plants in Europe, an EU spokesman said.

AFP - European Union Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen will meet next Monday with EU economy ministers and representatives from General Motors to discuss the future of GM unit Opel, a German newspaper reported.

AFP - The FTSE 100 dipped in morning trade on Tuesday as investors took profits from a strong performance the previous day which saw the index hit a 2009 peak on a wave of investor optimism.

AFP - Hungary will forego the next installment of an IMF loan and will postpone assistance offered by the European Union, Finance Minister Peter Oszko said Monday.

AFP - London's FTSE advanced at the start of trading on Monday, adding 0.43 percent at 5,319.08 points.