AFP - European shares edged higher on Thursday after British and eurozone interest rates were left unchanged, as expected, and news of soaring first-half profits at lenders Barclays and Commerzbank.

AFP - European equities sank Wednesday, despite upbeat earnings from banking groups Lloyds, Societe Generale and Standard Chartered, as investors focused on poor US data that sparked concern about the recovery.

AP - European stock markets rose Thursday as investors found cheer in a positive assessment of Greece%27s austerity program ahead of the latest policy comments from European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet.

AFP - Europe%27s main stock markets rose on Friday as the market saluted a return to profits for state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland and before publication of key US jobs data.

AFP - European stock markets surged in early trading on Monday, lifted by banking shares after British banking titan HSBC announced soaring half-year profits.