European Stocks Decline, Paced by Next, Sports Direct on U.K. Floods

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks fell, paced by U.K.
retailers Next Plc and Kingfisher Plc as floods devastated parts
of central England.

Sports Direct International Plc tumbled 19 percent after the
U.K.'s biggest sporting-goods retailer said it expects the floods to
weigh on earnings. ARM Holdings Plc and Infineon Technologies AG led
chipmakers lower after Texas Instruments Inc. of the U.S. reported a
drop in profit and revenue that missed analysts' estimates.


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U.K. FTSE 100 Index Retreats, Paced by Kingfisher; Johnson Matthey Falls

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks declined, led by
retailers after Sports Direct International Plc said it expects
flooding and higher interest rates to hurt earnings this year.
Kingfisher Plc and Home Retail Group Plc led the drop in the FTSE
100.

Johnson Matthey Plc fell after the company reported first-
quarter earnings. Friends Provident Plc slid after Societe
Generale lowered its recommendation on the shares. Yell Group Plc
paced advancing shares.


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U.K. Stocks Including National Grid Decline; Pearson, Kingfisher Advance

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks including National Grid
Plc dropped. Pearson Plc, Kingfisher Plc and Unilever rose.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index was little changed, slipping
8.5, or 0.1 percent, to 6587.5 in London at 8:32 a.m. The FTSE
All-Share Index lost less than 0.1 percent. Ireland's ISEQ Index
declined 0.1 percent to 9489.57.


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