* GLENCORE: Glencore reported a 5% fall in its
copper production for the first quarter on Friday, owing to
lower grades due to phasing of a pit at Collahuasi and delays
associated with adverse weather conditions at Antamina.
* RETAIL: British retail sales fell by a
greater-than-expected 0.9% in March from February, figures from
the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday, with bad
weather during the month having an impact on shoppers.
* HAMMERSON: British shopping centre owner Hammerson Plc is in talks with France's Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to sell its stake in a joint venture between the two
companies, Sky news reported.
* ECONOMY: British consumers were their most upbeat in more
than a year this month, despite the surging cost of living, as
they took a more positive view of their finances and the health
of the wider economy, market research firm GfK said.
* OIL: Oil prices eased for the third straight day and
looked set for a hefty weekly loss as softening U.S. economic
data and a rise in U.S. gasoline inventories raised concerns
about a recession and slower global oil demand.
* GOLD: Gold prices drifted lower as the dollar steadied,
although soft U.S. economic data reinforced expectations that
the Federal Reserve would pause its tightening cycle after
delivering one more rate hike next month.
* The UK's FTSE 100 index closed slightly up on Thursday as
a jump in shares of consumer conglomerate Melrose offered just
enough of a boost to overshadow falls in commodity-linked
sectors.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines (Reporting by Muhammed HUsain in Bengaluru)
