Aug 1 (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

- Former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage has revealed that he is in talks with NatWest Group-owned private bank Coutts about keeping his bank account open.

- Britain's Competition and Markets Authority has launched a "very rare" consultation on Microsoft's attempt to overturn its block on the $68.7 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, setting the stage for a potential climbdown.

The Guardian

- British building and roofing products supplier Marshalls is cutting another 250 jobs and has issued a profit warning in the latest sign of the growing slump in the UK housebuilding market.

The Telegraph

- Aston Martin will tap investors for 210 million pounds ($269.51 million) in an effort to pay off its debt pile which is weighing on the luxury carmaker.

- Britain's BT Group on Monday appointed Allison Kirkby as CEO to replace Philip Jansen around the end of January 2024.

Sky News

- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended a planned expansion of oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, claiming it is "entirely consistent" with the government's goal to reach net zero by 2050.

The Independent

- The UK has sanctioned six people following the "unjustifiable" decision to reject an appeal from a British-Russian dissident facing 25 years in jail for opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

($1 = 0.7792 pounds) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)