AP - Japanese stocks rose in early trading Friday, rebounding from the previous day's decline in a broad-based rally. The dollar was higher against the yen and euro.

AP - Lithuania on Thursday formally applied to the European Union to adopt Europe's common currency next year and the EU Commission said it will reply on May 16.

AP - Inflation slowed sharply in February as food costs moderated and the price of gasoline, natural gas and other energy products posted big declines.

Euro MPs abandon plans to monitor the presidential election in Belarus after they are refused visas.

AFP - The dollar skidded lower after news of a record US current account deficit and a weaker-than-expected retail sales report for February that diminished prospects for US rate hikes.

AP - The dollar edged lower against the euro Tuesday as new data showed the U.S. current account deficit rose to an all-time high last year and February retail sales fell.

AP - German drugmakers Merck KGaA and Schering AG sparred Tuesday over Merck's unsolicited 14.9 billion euro ($17.7 billion) takeover that would, if successful, create Germany's second-biggest pharmaceutical company.

AFP - The dollar steadied against the euro and dipped against the yen before publication of US current account and retail sales data.

AFP - Major currencies remained stuck in narrow ranges against each other, reflecting a quiet start to the week and ahead of some key US data in the coming days.

AP - Shares of Schering AG soared 26 percent Monday after rival German drugmaker Merck KGaA's unsolicited offer to buy the company for 14.6 billion euros ($17.4 billion).

AFP - Middlesbrough dashed Roma's 16-game unbeaten run in the UEFA Cup, an Aiyegbeni Yakubu penalty sealing the English Premiership side's 1-0 win at a rain-soaked Riverside.

Scotland open their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign at home to the Faroe Islands on 2 September.

AP - Carrefour SA, the world's second-largest retailer, reported a 16 percent drop in net income in 2005 due to one-time charges, but said it will spend 10 billion euros ($11.9 billion) over the next three years to open up new stores and strengthen its brand name.

AFP - Rafael Benitez refused to point the finger at his misfiring strikers after Liverpool's defence of their Champions League title ended in a flurry of squandered chances.

AP - Japanese stocks edged higher Thursday as investors awaited results from a two-day Bank of Japan meeting that could mark the end of the central bank's super-easy monetary policy. The dollar was lower against the yen and euro.

AFP - Arsenal will be the Premiership's sole representatives in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after Wednesday's goalless draw at Highbury completed a 1-0 aggregate victory over Real Madrid.

Reuters - Italian power company Enel plans to go ahead with a nearly 40 billion euro ($48 billion) bid for French utility Suez , the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people close to Enel.

AP - Parmalat's founder and former chairman testified at his own trial for the first time Tuesday, asking for forgiveness from all those hurt by fraud at the Italian dairy giant while blaming national and international banks for contributing to its downfall.

AFP - The pound held its ground against the leading currencies despite a somewhat depressing survey of the retail sector.

AP - German drugmaker Bayer AG said Monday its fourth-quarter profit fell 33 percent after it set aside 275 million euros ($330.5 million) to settle claims that it colluded on prices of rubber and plastic in the U.S.