WestLB seeks further state support

German Landesbank WestLB is in ‘intensive and constructive’ talks with the government rescue fund for fresh financial support

• WestLB statement
• German business confidence surges

Informa eyes deal for Springer

Informa is in early discussions with rival Springer Science and Business Media to buy the academic publisher from private equity groups Candover and Cinven

• Lombard: Informa’s gravitational pull
• Informa suffers first-half setback

Brussels drops Qualcomm antitrust probe

European regulators have dropped an antitrust investigation over patent royalty rates against Qualcomm after leading companies in the case withdrew their complaint

S&P raises fears over health of some banks

A study by Standard & Poor’s raises questions over the financial strength of some of the biggest banks ahead of new rules that could require them to raise more funds

Recovery reins in distressed property rise

More than four-fifths of the world’s established commercial property markets saw an increase in distressed real estate in the third quarter, although the recovery in markets such as the UK has seen the increase in problems for property owners diminish

TF1 agrees Canal Plus stake sale to Vivendi

Sale brings in much-needed cash for France’s largest television group which has had a difficult year, following a drop in advertising revenues and the erosion of its audience share

Turner to testify at EADS inquiry

Mike Turner has turned up as a key witness in France’s largest insider dealing case as the country’s Financial Markets Authority launched the final phase of its investigation

GM prepares to outline Opel strategy

European government officials expect the US carmaker to unveil plans for its Opel unit and agree to discuss the restructuring in depth in the first week of December