July 5 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on

the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not

verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- British savings and life insurance company Utmost is

aiming for a 2 billion pounds ($2.55 billion) flotation in

London within two years after striking a deal to buy Lombard

International, the wealth manager.

- Tata Steel has snubbed unions and closed one of

two blast furnaces at its biggest plant under plans to switch to

a greener form of production.

The Guardian

- The British banking sector has called for the next

government to penalise startups that take state aid and then

list abroad amid concerns about young companies choosing foreign

stock exchanges over London.

- The EU's top trade official, Valdis Dombrovskis, has

brushed aside concerns of trade-war retaliation from Beijing

against European business, after the European Commission imposed

duties on Chinese electric vehicles.

The Telegraph

- British Gas has filed a record number of winding-up

petitions against small businesses, threatening to tip

restaurants and care homes into bankruptcy.

- The boss of British Airways owner IAG has warned that air

fares are poised to rise across Europe as carriers pass on the

cost of net zero to passengers.

Sky News

- Cinema chain operator Cineworld is drawing up plans to axe

dozens of British cinemas as part of a radical restructuring

that would also include extensive rent cuts.

($1 = 0.7835 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)