Money news

June retail sales slump at sharp rate
Retail sales slumped in June at the sharpest rate on record, official figures showed on Thursday, more than wiping out May's record rise and dragging three-month growth down to its weakest since late last year. British Energy says in advanced talks
Nuclear power operator British Energy <BGY.L> said on Thursday it is in advanced discussions with one party, which industry sources have said is France's Electricite De France <EDF.PA>. BG's profit soars as prices jump
Gas producer BG Group <BG.L> said profits soared in the second quarter, and beat forecasts, thanks to high gas prices but shares fell as investors focussed on lower-than-expected production and gas prices in Britain. Ford posts loss on truck slump
Ford <F.N> posted a record $8.7 billion (4.4 billion pound) quarterly loss on Thursday as it wrote down the value of slumping truck and SUV operations and revamped plans in a bid to break its reliance on the gas-guzzlers that have been its franchise vehicles for a decade. CORRECTED-EasyJet sees year profit down on soaring fuel
Corrects paragraph 5 to say capacity growth is being cut to 4-6 percent, not capacity by 4-6 percent. FSA targets ex-Cazenove trader over insider dealing
A former senior trader at investment bank Cazenove pleaded not guilty to several charges of insider dealing on Thursday, in a rare criminal prosecution brought by the Financial Services Authority. Funds body to protest over M&S chief's dual role
Controversy over Stuart Rose's combined role as chairman and chief executive at Marks & Spencer <MKS.L> looks set to persist, after a major investor group unveiled plans for a protest at next year's shareholder meeting. Investors grab Fannie and Freddie after vote
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors snapped up shares of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae <FNM.N> and Freddie Mac <FRE.N> before Wall Street opened on Thursday, a day after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive rescue package to shore up the struggling housing market. FTSE falls as oils eclipse gains
The top share index fell by midday on Thursday as lower oil prices weighed on heavyweight energy stocks, though a trading update boosted retailer Kingfisher <KGF.L> and Credit Suisse <CSGN.VX> results lifted banks. Trinity Mirror rises on talk of Bennett interest
Shares in media group Trinity Mirror <TNI.L> jumped more than 5 percent on Thursday on market talk of bid interest from India's Bennett, Coleman.

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• KINGFISHER 15 5/7P
• BRIT.ENG.GP 10P
• ENT.INNS 2.5P
• LON.STK.EXCH SHS 6 79/86P
• SHIRE 5P

• BR.AIRWAYS 25P
• WOLSELEY 25P
• XSTRATA USD0.50
• BG GRP. 10P
• LONMIN SHS USD1