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Global economic recovery slowing: OECD Global economic recovery is slowing faster than expected and extra stimulus from governments may be needed, the OECD warned on Thursday.Growth in the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialised economies could slow to an annual rate of 1.5 per cent in the second half of the year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in an interim assessment. Bank of England keeps rates on hold The Bank of England says it is holding interest rates steady at a record low of 0.5 per cent for the 18th consecutive month amid growing fears about a double-dip recession.The British central bank also kept its STG200 billion ($A336.59 billion) asset-purchase program on hold in Thursday's announcement. Santos EIS close to fruition Santos Ltd chief executive David Knox says the energy giant will work with the federal government to get the environmental nod for its coal seam gas (CSG) projects next month.CSG projects have come under intense scrutiny from the federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett as well as farmers and conservationists, who say CSG production - where water is pumped to the surface, freeing the CSG trapped in rocks below - will endanger the Great Artesian Basin and pollute the surface. NAB unlikely to appeal ACCC rejection Analysts say National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB) is unlikely to appeal the competition watchdog's rejection of its revised $13.3 billion bid for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings (AXA APH).The bank says it's considering the implications of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) rejection of its undertakings given to address competition concerns over the deal. ACCC still opposes NAB, AXA deal The competition watchdog has blocked Australia's second biggest financial services takeover, paving the way for AMP Ltd to launch a fresh rival bid for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings (AXA APH).Analysts say the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) decision to block National Australia Bank's $13.3 billion bid for AXA APH means the big four banks will now be forced to look offshore for acquisitions. Santos sells 15% of GLNG to Total French energy giant Total has emerged with a 20 per cent stake in the Gladstone liquefied natural gas project (GLNG) after joint venture partners Santos Ltd and Malaysia's Petronas sold down their stakes for around $860 million.Santos has agreed to sell Total a 15 per cent stake in the Queensland project for $650 million, leaving it with a 45 per cent interest, which could reduce further if talks with Asian parties prove fruitful. Azure, Baraka quizzed over share jump The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has questioned oil and gas explorer Baraka Petroleum Ltd and minerals explorer Azure Minerals Ltd after shares in the companies jumped on Thursday.Baraka was the most traded stock by volume, with almost 130 million shares changing hands. Jabiru Metals extends Jaguar mine life Base metals miner Jabiru Metals Ltd has increased the life of its Jaguar project in Western Australia by three years to more than eight after upgrading its mineral reserves.The total reserve at the project, 300km north of Kalgoorlie, is now 3.23 million tonnes (Mt), up from 2.05Mt previously. Super too scary to view post-GFC: survey One in three people are too scared to look at their superannuation balance after the global financial crisis wreaked havoc in investment markets, research suggests.A survey commissioned by Suncorp-Metway Ltd shows 32 per cent of Australians are unaware of how much super they currently have, up from 23 per cent a year ago. Nuplex considers shift to Australia New Zealand-based chemicals supplier Nuplex Industries Ltd is considering shifting to Australia."Following detailed consideration, your directors are coming to the view that a change of the company's domicile to Australia, with listings remaining on both the New Zealand and Australian exchanges, would be in the best interests of all shareholders," Nuplex chairman Rob Aitken said in the company's 2010 annual report.