The Times

UK SHOPPERS CONFIDENCE FALTERS

British shoppers reverted to a bunker mentality over the new

year, according to gloomy sales figures that quash any hope of

consumers pulling the economy clear of a double-dip recession.

CHINA SAYS IT WILL IGNORE EU CARBON CHARGE

China has banned its airlines from complying with a European

scheme to limit carbon emissions, saying that it would infringe

its sovereignty.

The Telegraph

GREECE REFUSES TO BOW TO TROIKA PAYMASTERS

Greek politicians refused to yield to the austerity demands

of their 'troika' paymasters despite a stark warning from German

chancellor Angela Merkel that the stand-off threatened the

'entire eurozone'.

GLENCORE, XSTRATA SET TO ENTER FTSE TOP TEN

Miner Xstrata and trading house Glencore

will on Tuesday unveil details for their $90 billion merger,

which will see the new copper-to-commodities trading titan

catapulted to seventh place in the UK's FTSE 100.

The Guardian

UNITED NATIONS BUYS WHEAT FROM GLENCORE DESPITE PLEDGE

Glencore was the single biggest supplier of wheat

to the UN's World Food Programme despite a pledge by the United

Nations agency to buy food from 'very poor farmers'.

The Independent

SMITH & NEPHEW SETTLES US BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS

Smith & Nephew, the FTSE 100 maker of artificial hips

and knees, funnelled 6 million pounds ($9.48 million) through

shell companies in the UK to pay bribes to Greek doctors over

more than a decade, it was revealed on Monday.

UK GAS PRICES SOAR AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGE

Plunging temperatures and a supply squeeze sent British

wholesale gas prices soaring to their highest level in nearly

six years on Sunday, as Europe shivered in the grip of the big

freeze.

($1 = 0.6331 British pounds)

($1 = 0.6331 British pounds)

(Reporting by Stephen Mangan)

Keywords: PRESS DIGEST BRITISH BUSINESS FEB 7

(stephen.mangan@thomsonreuters.com)(+44)(0)(207 542 7931)

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