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Oracle wins more time for Sun merger

The European Commission extends the deadline for approval of Oracle’s proposed $7.4bn merger with rival Sun Microsystems

Editorial: Euro-minimalism

By lasering in on the lowest common denominator in this way, leaders of the big member-states are united in their unwillingness to be overshadowed by figures of calibre and clout

Business seeks freeze on labour laws

The British Chambers of Commerce is asking the government for a three-year moratorium on labour legislation amid fears that small companies in particular will struggle to absorb a concentrated wave of regulation

Europe’s appliance industry makes the grade

Appliance makers have won changes to a new European energy efficiency labelling scheme after they warned that an earlier rescaling plan could have cost them more than €1.5bn ($2.2bn, £1.4bn) in lost sales

Ombudsman raps EU probe after Intel claim

European competition officials have been criticised for failing to properly record a meeting with Dell during their investigation into antitrust abuses by Intel

Bankers fear over-regulation

European bankers have warned that excessive regulation in response to the global financial crisis will endanger growth, although some international officials insist tougher rules and an end to taxpayer-funded bank bail-outs are essential for recovery

Europe puts stress on R&D spending

European companies continue to plough money into research at a significantly higher rate than their US and Japanese counterparts in spite of the global financial crisis

France urges inquiry into competition abuse

Finance minister fears some institutions have become too powerful as the market has been consolidated by banking failures and industry mergers

Darling pressed to hold back on EU regulation

The Commons Treasury committee says it has identified ‘serious problems’ with plans to create a European Systemic Risk Board, which would focus on preventing bubbles and other macroeconomic dangers

Editorial Comment: Oracle v Brussels

Both sides have stumbled into this disagreement by accident. Having already won clearance in Washington, Oracle tried to rush its deal through in Brussels without showing due deference to regulators there

Brussels holds off on sales reform

Investors welcome revised EU fund rules

EU delays adoption of accounting rule changes

Intel and AMD settle antitrust dispute

MEP warns of lobbying over hedge fund rules

EU fines consultant for alleged cartel role

Insurers relieved as EU regulators pull back

Oracle rejects Brussels antitrust claims

Regulators to draw up Solvency II regime

European banks strive to delay capital reforms

Fourth column content

Fourth column content

Comment

Gideon Rachman’s blog

Gideon Rachman

Across the globe: Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign affairs columnist, spurs debate with his blogs on topics such as US foreign policy, the European Union and the Middle East

Economists’ Forum

Economists' Forum

Martin Wolf’s forum: Leading economists from around the world debate issues raised by Martin Wolf, associate editor and chief economics commentator at the FT