Wall Street Journal
U.K. House Prices Fall
House prices fell more sharply than expected in February, reversing a similar rise in January and suggesting the market is set for continued decline, mortgage lender Halifax said. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> U.K. House Prices Fall »
BSkyB Deal Moves On to Price
The U.K. gave provisional approval to News Corp.’s proposed takeover of British Sky Broadcasting after the media giant agreed to spin-off BSkyB’s 24-hour news channel, avoiding a prolonged investigation by the nation’s competition regulator. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> BSkyB Deal Moves On to Price »
U.K. Deals Blow to Drug Makers
Britain’s cost watchdog said it will not recommend Roche’s blockbuster eye care medicine Lucentis as a treatment for diabetic macular oedema, adding fresh controversy over the expensive drug which is sold in Europe by Novartis. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> U.K. Deals Blow to Drug Makers »
U.K. Bonus Cap Has a Major Loophole
In February, the U.K. government struck a deal limiting employees of RBS and Lloyds to cash bonuses of £2,000 this year. But left unsaid was that in June many employees will receive far larger sums in instruments that can be sold for cash immediately. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK ->... »
U.K. University Director Quits Over Gadhafi Ties
Howard Davies resigned Thursday as director of the London School of Economics, the most prominent casualty so far of the scandal involving ties in the academic world to the Gadhafi family. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> U.K. University Director Quits Over Gadhafi Ties »
U.K. Economic Data Turn Negative as More Cuts Loom
U.K. economic data turned negative Thursday after a brief positive spell, offering more glum news for a country whose closely watched exercise in aggressive deficit-cutting still has the vast majority of its belt-tightening measures to come. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> U.K. Economic Data Turn Negative as More Cuts... »
Aviva Posts Solid Growth
U.K. insurer Aviva said its full-year net profit rose 33%, helped by an increase in sales of life insurance and pension products. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> Aviva Posts Solid Growth »
Glencore Net Profit Up 31%
Swiss commodities concern Glencore International reported a strong full-year performance that reflecting an improved pricing environment for metals and minerals. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> Glencore Net Profit Up 31% »
U.K. Service Sector’s Growth Slows
Growth in the U.K.’s services sector slowed more than expected in February, suggesting the economy will grow only modestly in the first quarter. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> U.K. Service Sector’s Growth Slows »
BP Denies Bonuses to Top Executives
Criticized for its handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, BP’s board denied bonuses to three executives responsible for operations during the Gulf of Mexico oil-well disaster. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: About UK -> BP Denies Bonuses to Top Executives »
EADS Won’t Contest Decision
Airbus parent EADS said it won’t challenge the Pentagon’s decision to give a multibillion-dollar aerial-tanker contract to rival Boeing. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> EADS Won’t Contest Decision »
Suspect in Germany Targeted Soldiers
The Kosovo native suspected of murdering two American soldiers at Frankfurt airport was specifically targeting U.S. military personnel heading to Afghanistan, German prosecutors said. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> Suspect in Germany Targeted Soldiers »
Europe Leaders Seek Bailout Conditions
Europe’s conservative leaders, meeting in Helsinki to plot a response to the Continent’s persistent sovereign debt crisis, said they were committed to pushing tough economic reforms as the price of aid to weak states. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> Europe Leaders Seek Bailout Conditions »
EU to Add Sanctions on Libya
European Union member states are close to an agreement that would significantly broaden EU sanctions on Libya, a senior European Union official said Friday, citing concerns that the current measures don’t specifically target Libya’s sovereign wealth fund or its central bank. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> EU to... »
Italy Freezes Some Libyan Assets
Italy said it would freeze Libyan assets, in accordance with sanctions imposed by the EU, but the government stopped short of agreeing to freeze the assets of the Libyan central bank and the Libyan Investment Authority. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> Italy Freezes Some Libyan Assets »
Queen Elizabeth to Visit Ireland
Queen Elizabeth II will make her first-ever state visit to the Republic of Ireland, a country no ruling British monarch has visited since 1911. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> Queen Elizabeth to Visit Ireland »
Irish Parties Reach Outline Deal
Coalition talks between Ireland’s Fine Gael and Labour parties are at an advanced stage and an outline agreement has already been reached, Ireland’s state broadcaster RTE reported Friday. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> Irish Parties Reach Outline Deal »
Zara Pays Up for Retail Space
Cheap chic retailer Inditex Group agreed to pay $400 million for a space on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to house a Zara store, one of the largest such deals in the city’s history. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> Zara Pays Up for Retail Space »
Shell Nears Deals in Nigeria
Royal Dutch Shell is close to selling four of its onshore oil blocks in Nigeria to local bidders eager to break into the industry as unrest in North Africa and the Middle East boosts global crude prices. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> Shell Nears Deals in Nigeria »
UBS CEO Will Forgo Bonus
UBS Chief Executive Oswald Gruebel won’t accept a bonus for 2010, despite the bank’s having returned to profit last year and halted massive outflows of wealthy client funds. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Europe -> UBS CEO Will Forgo Bonus »
Internet Gambling Vetoed in New Jersey
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have made his state the first in the U.S. to reintroduce online gambling since it was effectively prohibited by a 2006 federal law. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> Internet Gambling Vetoed in New Jersey »
State Lawmakers Aim to Reduce Ranks
With states facing big budget deficits and governors proposing deep cuts to education and state medical care, legislators around the country are suggesting they share the pain by reducing their ranks. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> State Lawmakers Aim to Reduce Ranks »
U.S., Mexico Agree to Settle Truck Feud
The U.S. and Mexico unveiled a deal to resolve a longstanding dispute over cross-border trucking, an agreement that could help ease tense relations between the two neighbors. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> U.S., Mexico Agree to Settle Truck Feud »
Pressure Mounts on Absent Democrats
GOP lawmakers in Wisconsin and Indiana ratcheted up pressure on absent Democratic colleagues, aiming to force an end to standoffs over bills that would limit public workers’ bargaining rights. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> Pressure Mounts on Absent Democrats »
Boehner Aims to Tame Benefits Programs
House Speaker John Boehner said he’s determined to offer a budget that curbs Social Security and Medicare, and that Republicans will try to persuade voters that sacrifices are needed. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> Boehner Aims to Tame Benefits Programs »
Senate Hopeful Faces Questions
After a number of voting mishaps in Connecticut’s close governor’s race last year, former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz was harshly criticized for her role in the confusion. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> Senate Hopeful Faces Questions »
GOP to Target Foreclosure-Prevention Programs
House Republicans next week will try to dismantle the Obama administration’s efforts to stabilize the U.S. housing market. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> GOP to Target Foreclosure-Prevention Programs »
Railroads Gain Leeway on Safety Rule
The Obama administration agreed to scale back requirements for new anticollision technology on passenger and freight trains, in an attempt to resolve a legal dispute over the multibillion-dollar safety initiative. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> Railroads Gain Leeway on Safety Rule »
Union Fight Sparks Recall Campaigns
Unions and Democratic activists in Wisconsin and Ohio open new fronts in their opposition to state bills that would limit public employees’ collective-bargaining rights. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> Union Fight Sparks Recall Campaigns »
Local Governments Pare Payrolls
State and local governments, aiming to reduce their budget deficits, cut jobs at an accelerating pace in February. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: Politics And Policy -> Local Governments Pare Payrolls »
S&P Downgrades Toyota Bond Rating
In the latest blow to Toyota, ratings agency Standard & Poor’s lowered its bond rating the world’s largest auto maker to AA minus from AA, citing what it said was its “weak profitability.” Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> S&P Downgrades Toyota Bond Rating »
TPG, J-Trust May Bid for Takefuji
U.S. private equity fund TPG Capital and Japanese consumer lender J-Trust are the likely contenders to take over failed consumer lender Takefuji, in a decision to be announced as early as the end of this month. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> TPG, J-Trust May Bid for Takefuji »
Philippines to China: Explain Incident
The Philippines wants China to explain why two of its patrol boats harassed a Philippine ship searching for oil in a disputed area of the South China Sea, Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> Philippines to China: Explain Incident »
MTR Posts 25% Rise in Net
MTR Corp. said full-year net profit rose to $1.55 billion from a year earlier, helped by higher property prices in Hong Kong. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> MTR Posts 25% Rise in Net »
‘Pleasant Goat’ Looks Abroad
Veteran Hong Kong investment banker Francis Leung has his eyes set on transforming a popular Chinese cartoon brand to the leagues of Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty in his first foray into China’s animation market. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> ‘Pleasant Goat’ Looks Abroad »
Rio Looks to Replenish Board
Rio Tinto has begun the search to replenish its board as several directors, including former British Airways Chief Executive Rod Eddington, prepare to retire. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> Rio Looks to Replenish Board »
Rusal Rejects Norilsk Offer
United Co. Rusal said its board rejected Norilsk Nickel’s sweetened offer to purchase most of Rusal’s stake in the firm. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> Rusal Rejects Norilsk Offer »
Asia Up on Oil Retreat
Asian stock markets posted solid gains, with the Nikkei up 1.2%, cheered by Wall Street’s charge higher and a retreat in oil prices. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> Asia Up on Oil Retreat »
China Stresses Stability Amid Further Growth
China’s annual—and largely ceremonial—legislative meeting is highlighting the struggle to pursue growth while curbing inflation. Also likely high on leaders’ minds: the Middle East turmoil and how to boost living standards of lower-income Chinese. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> China Stresses Stability Amid Further Growth »
Japan’s Foreign Minister Resigns
Japan’s foreign minister resigned over an illegal donation scandal, dealing the latest blow to Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s faltering government and threatening to diminish Japan’s credibility in international circles. Read all the article posted in WSJ.com: What’s News Asia -> Japan’s Foreign Minister Resigns »