Downbeat activity data pushes global shares lower
LONDON (Reuters) – Shares fell and safe-haven currencies rose on Thursday after downbeat surveys of economic activity in China and parts of Europe raised concerns about the withdrawal of monetary stimulus.
EU to rule on state aid for 28 airports, airlines by September
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union regulators aim to rule by September whether state aid granted to 28 airports and budget airlines, such as Ryanair, is legal, the European Commission said on Thursday as it unveiled tougher laws to ban public funds fo…
Facebook to buy WhatsApp for $19 billion in deal shocker
(Reuters) – Facebook Inc will buy fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock in a landmark deal that places the world’s largest social network closer to the heart of mobile communications and may bring younger user…
World economic recovery struggling to gain traction
LONDON/BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s vast factory sector contracted again this month and the expected acceleration in euro zone business activity failed to materialize, highlighting the fragile state of a global economy.
Porsche recalls all 911 GT3 cars made this year amid fire probe
BERLIN (Reuters) – Porsche said it will recall all 785 models of its 911 GT3 sports-car that have been delivered worldwide this year after two of them caught fire.
Diamonds and deals as Danone struggles for China bounce
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – In Danone SA’s China, diamonds are free, milk powder is forever.
BAE Systems says U.S. business close to ‘bottoming out’ in 2014
LONDON (Reuters) – Europe’s largest defense contractor BAE Systems said its U.S. business was close to “bottoming out” in 2014 after suffering a 865 million pound ($1.45 billion) writedown last year and further pressure from reduced U.S. spending.
Euro zone business recovery eases despite price cutting
LONDON (Reuters) – An expected acceleration in euro zone business activity failed to materialize this month and firms cut prices again to drum up trade, which may further stoke fears of deflation in the currency bloc, surveys showed.
Europe’s chemical firms pin hopes on R&D with customers
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – European chemicals and plastics makers are cutting in-house research and instead trying to persuade industrial customers to work together on developing running shoes, cars or electronics.
KKR’s Kravis: ‘really tough’ to buy controlling stakes in emerging markets
MUMBAI (Reuters) – Global private equity firm KKR & Co LP co-founder Henry Kravis on Thursday said buying controlling stakes in companies is “really tough” in emerging markets, and is particularly hard in India because of the prevalent family-owned business structure.
