British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC, or BSkyB, (BSY.LN) Wednesday said it purchased 320,000 ordinary shares, for cancellation, on Sept. 4.

European stock markets inched higher in early trade on Wednesday, a day ahead of a much anticipated policy meeting in the European Central Bank, while BP PLC added pressure.

AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN) Wednesday said it purchased, for cancellation, 300,000 ordinary shares at a price of 2913 pence per share on Sept. 4.

Russia's Energy Ministry warned in March of a risk that Europe's antitrust authorities would open an investigation into OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) over its pricing of natural-gas exports, Vedomosti reports Wednesday, citing a government document.

France's Schneider Electric SA (SU.FR) said Wednesday it sold its 0.45% stake in insurance company AXA SA (CS.FR) for 120 million euros ($151 million) after both companies decided not to renew a shareholders' agreement that ended May 15.

State Bank of India (500112.BY) said Wednesday it will reduce interest rates on most retail term deposits, effective Friday.

The French government will sponsor a bill raising retail prices of electricity and gas for heavy consumers for approval in Parliament in October, newspaper Les Echos reports Wednesday.

Norwegian seabed-to-surface engineering contractor Subsea 7 S.A. (SUBC.OS) Wednesday announced the award of a $60 million Varg Gas Export Contract from Talisman Energy Norge AS for the development of a gas export pipeline at the Varg field, located 200km off the Norwegian coastline. MAIN FACTS:

TIDMPRU RNS Number : 4989L Prudential PLC 05 September 2012 5 September 2012 Jackson National Life completes acquisition of SRLC America Holding Corp for GBP417 million Jackson National Life Insurance Company ("Jackson"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential plc ("Prudential"),