Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz said on Tuesday it had transferred $1.45 billion to Russia's Gazprom, the first tranche of debt repayment required by an agreement that will see Moscow resume gas supplies to its ex-Soviet neighbor.
Europe
Monte Paschi approves capital increase for up to 2.5 billion euros
Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI) will tap investors for up to 2.5 billion euros next year to fill a capital deficit laid bare by recent stress tests and pay back state aid in a move bankers said would prepare the Italian lender for a likely takeover.
Sainsbury takes fight to discounters with Netto store opening
British supermarket operator J Sainsbury Plc's (SBRY.L) answer to discounters Aldi and Lidl was unveiled on Thursday, with the opening of its first Netto-branded store in northern England tasked to win over thrifty shoppers.
GE says Alstom power deal on pace for mid-2015 closing
General Electric Co's (GE.N) $16.9 billion purchase of the power assets of France's Alstom (ALSO.PA) is on pace for closing in the middle of next year after passing several steps, the head of GE's power business said on Wednesday.
Serbian PM discusses models of gas debt repayment with Putin
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday he had discussed models of debt repayment to Russian state gas giant Gazprom with Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone.
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Germany is set for days of transport chaos after a train drivers' union called a strike from Wednesday over pay and negotiating rights, threatening to disrupt this weekend's celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
AstraZeneca moved to strengthen its core oncology business on Tuesday with three deals designed to expand the British drugmaker's reach in treating tumors.
France and Germany have agreed that the banking sectors in each country should pay 15 billion euros ($19 billion) toward an EU fund designed to limit the fallout from a banking collapse, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said on Tuesday.
The euro zone will need another year to reach even a modest level of economic growth, the European Commission said on Tuesday, calling on Germany to help as Chancellor Angela Merkel again rejected a spending spree.
In its autumn forecasts European commission has revised down the growth forecasts for European Union and euro area. The report said, “Annual GDP growth in the EU this year is now projected to be 1.3%, while growth in the euro area is expected to be 0.8%.”
UK lender Virgin Money is seeking to go ahead with its postponed London stock market listing amid firmer market conditions by the end of next week, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has pledged to correct a glitch in software used to analyze data from clinical drug trials within "four to eight weeks", after independent experts highlighted a potential for errors.
The ECB will not improve the terms of its ultra-cheap long-term loans for now, though this may change if it becomes clear that the euro zone economy is taking another turn for the worse, several sources familiar with the discussion told Reuters.
European broadcasting group RTL Group said on Monday it had taken control of StyleHaul, a YouTube fashion platform, as it beefs up its online presence to keep younger viewers, whom it may lose at its traditional TV channels.
