LONDON (AFX) - Here are the top stories on AFX News US jobless rate drops but job growth slows
WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's unemployment rate dipped to 4.5 percent in February even as big losses of construction and factory jobs restrained overall payroll growth. Wages grew briskly.
The latest snapshot, released by the Labor Department on Friday, offered a mixed picture of the employment climate. EADS reports $1.01 billion loss in 4Q
MUNICH, Germany (AP) - Airbus parent EADS NV said Friday that a weaker dollar and major delays at its Airbus unit dragged its 2006 profit down, caused a multimillion dollar quarterly loss and warned that Airbus would 'display another substantial loss in 2007.'
The Amsterdam-based company lost 768 million euros ($1.01 billion) in the fourth quarter compared with a profit of 405 million euros a year earlier. Sales, however, were up 11 percent to 11.96 billion euros ($15.73 billion) compared with 10.76 billion euros in 2005. Brevan Howard Macro raises 770 mln eur in IPO
LONDON (AFX) - Brevan Howard Macro Ltd said it has raised 770 mln eur by placing 82.8 mln shares in its initial public offering.
The company said the offer comprised of 27.2 mln eur shares at 10 eur each, 45.1 mln usd shares at 10 usd each and 10.5 mln stg shares at 10 stg each. Japan's Aeon, Daiei form alliance to create country's largest retail group
TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Aeon Co Ltd and Daiei Inc are forming a broad capital and business alliance to create Japan's largest retail group, the two companies said.
By combining forces, Aeon, Daiei and Daiei's largest shareholder, Marubeni Corp, aim to help turn around the struggling Aeon and to grow its business in a difficult market, the three said in a joint statement. Procter & Gamble affirms 3Q guidance
CINCINNATI (AP) - Diversified consumer-products maker Procter & Gamble Co. on Friday affirmed its guidance for the fiscal third quarter.
For the quarter ending in March, P&G continues to expect earnings between 72 cents and 74 cents per share. AGF board backs Allianz buyout offer
PARIS (AFX) - Assurances Generales de France said its management board has decided unanimously to back the buyout offer made by the group's largest shareholder, Allianz SE.
It said after consultations with external consultants the board decided that the financial terms were 'fair' and that the strategic basis for the merger was 'in the interest of the company, its shareholders and its employees.' DaimlerChrysler has no plans to spin off commercial vehicles
FRANKFURT (AFX) - DaimlerChrysler AG has no plans to spin off its commercial vehicles division, reported Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview with the unit's chief Andreas Renschler.
'That is not on our agenda. Why would we separate from such a highly profitable business?' said Renschler. Breeden rejects Applebees' seat offer
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) - Restaurant operator Applebee's International Inc. said Friday its negotiations with activist shareholder Breeden Capital Management LLC have failed, after Breeden rejected an offer for two seats on its board.
Breeden, which owns about 5 percent of Applebee's stock, wanted four members elected to the board and has pushed for a number of changes, including selling most of the company-owned restaurants to franchisees. Telefonica requests Merrill Lynch provide financing for eventual Endemol buyer
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - Telefonica SA said it has asked Merrill Lynch to offer stapled financing to the eventual buyer of Endemol NV as the Spanish group is exploring strategic options for the sale of all or part of its 75 pct stake in the Dutch television company.
If Telefonica were to decide to divest its 75 pct stake in Endemol, it said it would solicit from the potential purchaser a public offer for the other 25 pct of the shares outstanding in Endemol. Converium is open to a bidder other than Scor - chairman
LONDON (AFX) - Swiss reinsurer Converium Holding AG, fending off a 2.4 bln usd hostile takeover from French rival Scor SA, is increasingly open to -- and looking for -- another bidder, but one hasn't surfaced yet, the Wall Street Journal said, citing Converium
s chairman in an interview. EU SUMMIT Leaders reach deal on fighting climate change
BRUSSELS (AFX) - EU leaders agreed to adopt binding targets on future use of renewable energy, overcoming the main obstacle to an ambitious plan to fight global warming.
The overall accord became possible once leaders agreed to a binding target of a 20 pct share of renewable energies in overall EU energy consumption by 2020, which had been the main stumbling block. COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited