Carrefour to buy shopping malls in $2.8 billion deal
PARIS (Reuters) – Carrefour is teaming up with investors to buy 127 shopping malls in which it runs stores, in a $2.8 billion deal that marks the French retailer’s latest attempt to revive its struggling European hypermarkets.
Euro zone business recovery ends year on a high
LONDON (Reuters) – Euro zone businesses ended the year on a high as new orders surged, but the chasm between a resurgent Germany and wilting France has widened this month, surveys showed on Monday.
Europe lifted by PMI data, China wobble hits Asia
LONDON (Reuters) – Robust German PMIs helped Europe shrug off some mixed Asian data on Monday, though caution remained much in evidence just days away from what looks set to be a very close call on the fate of U.S. monetary stimulus.
Striking French Total workers shutting down two refineries: CGT
PARIS (Reuters) – French refinery workers at Total staged a fourth day of strike on Monday due to a row with management over annual pay increases, with production units gradually shutting down at the Gonfreville and La Mede plants, union officials said…
Japan business mood hits six-year high as ‘Abenomics’ takes hold
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese business confidence improved over the three months to December to its highest level in six years, a central bank survey showed, suggesting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” stimulus policies are gaining broader traction…
Wuhan: Detroit of the East gives green light to Renault
BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Renault SA clinched full access to China’s auto market on Monday by sealing a joint venture agreement with state-owned Dongfeng Motor Group in Wuhan, a city fast shaping up as China’s own Detroit.
Russia holds out prospect of loan for Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Kremlin aide made clear on Monday that Russia was ready to extend a credit to Ukraine to help Kiev cope with its economic problems and keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.
Several Swiss cantonal banks to join U.S. tax deal
ZURICH (Reuters) – Several Swiss regional banks said on Monday they would cooperate with U.S. officials to avoid prosecution in a crackdown on Swiss lenders suspected of helping wealthy Americans evade taxes through offshore accounts.
Bruiser Boucher, Irish banking’s great survivor
DUBLIN (Reuters) – In March 2011 Bank of Ireland had four months to find 4.2 billion euros or the government would seize control. The country’s central bank was issued powers to fire senior financiers. The outlook seemed bleak for Richie Boucher.
Amazon’s German workers set to go on strike
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Workers at Amazon.com’s German operations were set to go on strike on Monday, in the middle of the crucial Christmas holiday season, in a dispute over pay that has been raging for months.
