The number of building permits authorised by the municipal authorities and the district administration offices increased for a second straight month during March 2009, rising by 7.3% to 766. However, the total value of these permits dropped by 7.2% to EUR 215.1 mln and the total area decreased by fell by 14.6% to 255,578 square
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Norwegian browser maker Opera ASA said on Friday that Microsoft's plan to ship its Windows operating system in Europe without its Internet Explorer web browser was not enough to restore competition. On Thursday the world's top software maker Microsoft, countering pressure from European regulators, said it plans to ship the newest version of Windows in
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U.S. consumer confidence rose to a nine-month high in June but failed again to surpass its level of September 2008, when the spectacular failure of Lehman Brothers sent the world economy into a tailspin, a survey showed on Friday. The Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its preliminary index of confidence for June rose
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Stocks extended losses on Friday as a report showed a rise in inflation expectations and continuing job uncertainty even as the consumer mood improved in June. The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) dropped 48.22 points, or 0.55 percent, to 8,722.70. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) fell 8.65 points, or 0.92 percent, to 936.24.
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Britain is on track to price its first syndicated gilt in four years on Tuesday with a target size of up to 5 billion pounds, a banker familiar with the deal said on Friday. The offering, which will carry a 25-year maturity, is Britain's first syndicated bond since 2005. "The target range is 3 to
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World stocks were flat on Friday ahead of a G8 meeting as investors paused for breath to discern further signs of economic recovery while euro zone government bond prices rose after a successful 30-year U.S. bond auction soothed worries over the rising U.S. budget deficit. Better-than-expected Chinese factory output in May and an upwards revision
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Oil eased to $72 a barrel on Friday pressured by a firmer dollar, but stronger-than-expected Chinese economic data helped support prices near an eight-month high. The market on Thursday settled at $72.68, the highest since Oct. 20 after a three-day rally, making it look overvalued to some analysts. The dollar gained, reducing the investment appeal
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European shares rose on Friday morning as positive data from China helped lift investor spirits, while Novartis gained after it made its first batch of H1N1 vaccine ahead of expectations. By 0847 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 was up 0.1 percent at 888.72 points. The index has risen around 37 percent since reaching a low
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Britain's leading share index traded flat early on Friday, with gains by pharmaceuticals offset by losses in commodity stocks and banks as investors stayed cautious on prospects for a sustained economic recovery. By 0804 GMT the FTSE 100 was 3.90 points higher at 4,4465.77 after closing up 25.12 points at 4461.87 on Thursday. The index
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British bank Barclays confirmed on Friday that it had agreed to sell its BGI investment arm to U.S. firm BlackRock for $13.5 billion, creating the world's biggest asset manager. Barclays said in a statement that a net gain of $8.8 billion would be used to bolster its capital strength, boosting the bank's equity tier 1
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