U.S. economy stalls in first-quarter, but fundamentals still sound
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. economy barely grew in the first quarter as the severe winter hampered exports and led businesses to curtail investment spending, but activity already appears to be bouncing back.
UAW can still unionize Volkswagen Tennessee plant after failed drive: experts
DETROIT (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers still has several options to unionize Volkswagen AG’s Tennessee car plant, labor law experts said on Wednesday, after it failed to win enough support and last week dropped its challenge to the election result…
GE’s Alstom bid shows limits of French state intervention
PARIS (Reuters) – General Electric’s overtures to the power business of France’s former industrial beacon Alstom have shown again how the French state, for all its interventionist zeal, has limited room for maneuver against big business.
Ford begins production of Transit vans in Missouri
DETROIT (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co on Wednesday formally marked the end of a profitable half-century run for its E-Series commercial van, trumpeting the start of North American production of the replacement Transit van at its Kansas City assembly plant….
GE eases ahead in race for Alstom power assets
PARIS (Reuters) – Cash-strapped French engineering group Alstom said on Wednesday it would explore a $16.9 billion offer from General Electric for its energy arm while leaving the door open to a rival bid from Germany’s Siemens.
ArcelorMittal, Bekaert swap stakes in Latin America wire ventures
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – ArcelorMittal SA, the world’s largest steelmaker, and Bekaert Group on Wednesday agreed to swap their stakes in their Brazil, Costa Rica and Ecuador ventures, part of a broader plan to extend a four-decade partnership in fast-grow…
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac may need $190 billion in big downturn: regulator
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may require as much as $190 billion in additional taxpayer aid if the economy suffers a severe downturn, their regulator said on Wednesday.
‘The Lego Movie’, HBO shows boost Time Warner results
(Reuters) – Time Warner Inc raised its full-year earnings forecast after the box-office success of “The Lego Movie” and the popularity of HBO shows such as “Game of Thrones” and “True Detective” led to a near-doubling of quarterly profit.
Charter withdraws slate for Time Warner Cable’s board
(Reuters) – Charter Communications, which lost out to Comcast Corp in a bid to acquire Time Warner Cable Inc, has withdrawn its slate of nominees to Time Warner Cable’s board.
BNP warns U.S. fine may ‘far exceed’ $1.1 billion provision
By Lionel Laurent and Matthias Blamont and Aruna Viswanatha
