* OFCOM: Britain's telecoms regulator said it needed another two months to consider BT's wholesale pricing offer, called Equinox 2, after further issues were raised by rivals.
* SPORTS DIRECT: Britain's
accounting watchdog said it has decided to close investigation into Grant Thornton's audit of Sports Direct International for the year to April 24, 2016.
* NON-STANDARD FINANCE: British doorstep lender Non-Standard Finance underlined plans to
recapitalise
itself by raising about 95 million pounds ($115.57 million) through a pubic
equity raise.
* BP: BP violated U.S. process safety rules and did not train workers
properly at its Toledo, Ohio refinery, contributing to death of two workers at
plant last year, U.S. federal investigators said.
* OIL: Oil prices rebounded by about 1% after meeting between Saudi Arabia
and Russia calmed markets amid strong China demand expectations.
* GOLD: Gold prices rose, buoyed by weaker dollar, and were poised for
biggest weekly gain since mid-November as global banking crisis sent investors
flocking to the safe-haven metal.
* FTSE: London stocks rose on Thursday as banking sector recovered after
Credit Suisse received lifeline from Swiss central bank to boost investor
confidence, while Rentokil jumped after posting higher profit.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines (Reporting by Hani Kollathodi in Bengaluru)
