PRESS DIGEST-Financial Times - March 18

March 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

- Thames Water wins approval for controversial 3-billion-pound creditor loan

- UK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds seeks to fend off U.S. tariffs threats

- FCA to ban Crispin Odey from financial services industry

- EU to probe aluminium imports diverted by Donald Trump's tariffs

Overview

- Thames Water, Britain's biggest water supplier, said its 3-billion-pound ($3.89 billion) debt lifeline would go ahead after appeals against it were dismissed, allowing the company to avoid a state rescue in the short term.

- UK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds on Tuesday will attempt to fend off the threat of swingeing US tariffs, but Britain's digital services tax remains a major source on contention with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

- Britain's Financial Conduct Authority said it has fined Crispin Odey, founder of the now defunct hedge fund Odey Asset Management, 1.8 million pounds, and banned him from the financial services industry for a lack of integrity.

- The European Commission is probing into the aluminium market to protect the bloc's beleaguered industry from a surge in cheap imports displaced by Trump's tariffs.

($1 = 0.7708 pounds)