July 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

- Britain said it could intervene in Paramount Skydance's PSKY.O proposed takeover of Warner Bros Discovery WBD.O, potentially holding up the $110 billion deal after the U.S. and China gave it the green light.

- The use of AI agents to trade in financial assets or carry out retail payment requests could threaten financial stability and cause "market meltdown", a deputy governor the Bank of England has warned.

The Guardian

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to spend an extra £15 billion ($20 billion) to modernise Britain's depleted armed forces in a long-delayed investment plan that is designed to prepare for the wars of the future and mark his legacy.

- The EU has halved the amount of duty-free steel it will accept from abroad, but has agreed higher import volumes for more than a dozen trading partners, including Britain.

The Telegraph

- BP's BP.L deputy CEO and trading chief Carol Howle will retire, the energy major said, extending a leadership shake-up that has seen a new CEO appointed and the chairman removed in recent months.

- Folding bike-maker Brompton Bicycles has secured millions of pounds from Chinese and French investors as it grapples with a post-pandemic decline in cycling.

Sky News

- Former Superdry finance chief Shaun Wills will join discount retailer Poundland next month, as the chain's new owner steps up efforts to revive the struggling business.

- Britain's biggest housebuilders, including Barratt Redrow BTRW.L and Taylor Wimpey TW.L, are facing a potential multi-billion-pound class action lawsuit over alleged anticompetitive conduct, according to a consumer claim filed.

The Independent

- Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said that the central bank remained in no rush to respond to increased oil prices and that inflation was on course to return to its 2% target, albeit later than he would have liked.

- Kitchens retailer Magnet is set to close 15 of its stores as part of a significant restructuring effort aimed at shoring up its financial position.