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A strong result posted by mining giant BHP Billiton as well as assurances from the US Federal Reserve that the stimulus will only be withdrawn if the economy is strong enough to sustain growth, boosted confidence in the mining sector in the country.

Conviviality Retail, the owner of Bargain Booze, Bargain Booze Plus, Select Convenience and Thorougoods, said that it is aiming to raise between £60 million to £65 million through a placing on London's Alternative Investment Market (Aim).

Smiths Group has said its operating profit might be impacted this year due to issues relating to its detection business.

The leading maker of airport security scanners said that its operating profit might take a cut of £15 million following long-running disputes from its detection division. The company provides scanners in airport security, at ports and at border check-points across the world and devices for detection of explosives and weapons.

UK's financial giant, Barclays has said that it will vigorously defend against a fine imposed by US energy regulators for allegedly manipulating electricity markets in the American state of California. The regulator imposed a fine of $453 million on Barclays Plc and the more on its four former traders for manipulating the energy markets.

The Bank of England (BoE) under the new leader Mark Carney is set to adopt the formal forward guidance for financial markets.

The minutes from the latest meeting of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee showed that all the members voted against more quantitative easing. The central bank is aiming to keep its £375bn asset-purchase programme on hold following all its members including new Governor, Mr Carney as well as Paul Fisher and David Miles, who earlier voted in favor of more stimulus, expressed their vote against additional stimulus.

Los Angeles, July 18 - Singer Demi Lovato believes that her family home in Texas is haunted and said that she goes ghost hunting.

The 20-year-old said her Texas home is haunted by a little girl named Emily, whom she befriended as an invisible playmate when she was younger, reports contactmusic. com.

"I go ghost hunting. My house in Texas is so ridiculously haunted. Not by a bad spirit, but a little girl. I think her name is Emily. I've had a medium come over and ghost hunters, and they both told me the same name, Emily," buzzfeed. com quoted Lovato as saying.