ITALY'S Finance Minister Domenico Siniscalco sensationally resigned yesterday after he failed to persuade Bank of Italy Governor Antonio Fazio to quit.

BRITISH stocks dropped, led by BP after a Gulf of Mexico rig was damaged by Hurricane Dennis.

The French government today said was to sell a 17.7% stake in Air France-KLM, the world’s largest airline, in a move that would help the state reduce its debt and scale back its influence on the Franco-Dutch carrier.

INVESTORS in AIB and Bank of Ireland should give consideration to taking some profits following the recent price surge in stocks, some analysts believe.

EUROPE’S longest stock-market rally since the bull market peak in 2000 has sputtered during the past month, and an unexpected rise in US employment may not be enough to revive the advance.

AIB Bank and Bank of Ireland may become takeover targets for National Australia Bank when a former Barclays’ Bank deputy chief executive takes over NAB’s European operations in August.