BRIDGESTONE CORP

Major corporations were removed from a social investment index series because of concerns on human rights, climate change the UK index provider FTSE Group said.

Many managers of so-called "socially responsible funds" use the FTSE4Good and similar indexes to screen companies before buying their shares.

The most prominent change made on Thursday was the decision by FTSE's policy committee to drop BP Plc. FTSE said the oil giant was removed after its committee considered the social and environmental impact of the company's huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico this year.

The committee also dropped Japanese company Bridgestone Corp citing "human rights" issues. Bridgestone have so far not responded to requests for comment.

If you play with a Bridgestone golf ball, how do you feel about it?
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