Here is a quick look at some of the top finance news around the world:

-On Aug. 16, 2007 stock index futures tumbled on Thursday, mirroring steep declines in Asian and European markets, after the latest sign the Federal Reserve is reluctant to cut rates in the midst of markets’ turbulence.

-The euro on Thursday slid under 1.34 dollars for the first time in nearly two months and struck a five-month low against the yen as the US and Japanese currencies gained from their safe-haven status.

-British retail sales climbed in July as consumers took advantage of reduced prices, official data showed on Thursday. Retail sales rose by 0.7 percent in July from June and by 4.4 on a 12-month basis, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Analysts’ consensus forecast had been for a monthly increase of 0.2 percent and annual rise of 3.5 percent.

-Oil dropped more than $1 on Thursday as credit fears pounded stocks and a threat of storm damage to U.S. Gulf refineries and rigs appeared to recede.