Western Europe

BHP Group, the mining company, has renewed its takeover bid for rival Anglo American, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. This comes just months after BHP and Teck Resources, the Canadian miner, agreed to merge to form a global heavyweight in the copper industry. Anglo American refused to comment. BHP didn't immediately respond to an outside normal business hours request for a comment. Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that BHP made overtures to Anglo American recently. The report added that discussions are still ongoing and a deal is not certain. Anglo American has...

Shumeet Baniaerji, an independent director of the BBC board, resigned on Friday after the broadcaster claimed that a speech given by Donald Trump was incorrectly edited. The BBC has threatened to sue for $5 billion over the matter. Banerji resigned a couple of weeks before the end of his four-year tenure. He is also a member of the board of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, and a former CEO of management consulting firm Booz & Company. Banerji, according to the broadcaster's news department, had written in his resignation letter that he felt upset by governance issues at top management. BBC News...

Eli Lilly's market value surpassed $1 trillion on Friday. It is the first pharmaceutical company to join the exclusive club of tech giants, and it highlights its growth as a weight loss powerhouse. The explosive growth in the weight loss drug market has been a major factor behind the more than 35% increase in the stock price of the company this year. As new and highly effective treatments for obesity have hit the market in the past two years, this category has become one of the most profitable segments in healthcare. The world's top-selling drug is now Lilly's Tirzepatide. It's...

Eli Lilly's market value surpassed $1 trillion on Friday. It is the first pharmaceutical company to join the exclusive club of tech giants, and it highlights its growth as a weight loss powerhouse. The explosive growth in the weight loss drug market has been a major factor behind the more than 35% increase in the stock price of the company this year. Obesity treatments, once considered a niche, are now among the most lucrative segments of healthcare. Demand is steadily increasing. Novo Nordisk was the first to market, but Lilly’s drugs Mounjaro & Zepbound have grown in popularity & helped...

British Defence Minister John Healey stated on Wednesday that "military alternatives" were ready in the event the Russian spy vessel Yantar became a threat. The ship had directed lasers towards British pilots who were sent to monitor it. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Britain's Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Air Forces (RAF), regularly shadow potential threats to national safety. Such missions to monitor Russian vessels or submarines are becoming more frequent. Healey stated that aiming lasers at RAF aircraft was "deeply hazardous" and Britain would react based on the Yantar’s next move. Healey stated that "we have...

Finnish petrol station operator Teboil is owned by Russian oil giant Lukoil and said that it was preparing to close its operations when fuel ran out due to U.S. sanction against its parent. Teboil announced that stations would close in stages once the fuel stock is sold out. The United States last week imposed sanctions on Lukoil for its involvement in the war in Ukraine. On Friday, the Trump administration gave potential buyers clearance to speak to the Russian company regarding buying their products. Non-Russian assets According to the website of Teboil, there are 430 Teboil stations in Finland. This...

Exxon Mobil announced Tuesday that it will close its Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) located in Scotland by February 2026. The company said the plant is no longer viable due to high supply costs, weak markets and the UK's economic and policy climate. The European Union's fourth largest exporting sector, after machinery, automobiles and pharmaceuticals has been under pressure due to soaring energy prices following Russia's invasion in Ukraine, and an aging infrastructure. This has led them to become more dependent on imports for key feedstocks like ethylene and propylene. Exxon has said that it has assessed different options for continuing...

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday urged Serbia to align its foreign policy and security towards Russia with that of the European Union, if it wanted to join the bloc. Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic tries to balance his country's European Union candidacy with its traditional ties to Russia and China. Serbia depends on Russian gas and its only oil refiner NIS (Russian-owned) is subject to U.S. sanctions because of the conflict in Ukraine. Wadephul told his Serbian counterpart Marko Dridic that Ukraine is fighting for freedom not only for itself but also for the whole of Europe. "We...

TotalEnergies was accused by a European human rights organization of complicity with war crimes, torture, and enforced disappearances in Mozambique. The complaint was filed to the French prosecutor's office on Tuesday. Four years after an Islamist militant attack that halted construction, the French oil giant, together with its project partners lifted force majeure for their $20 billion Mozambique gas project. The complaint seeks a link between Total and alleged mozambican torture on its evacuated site of the gas project from July to September 2020, after the oil firm exfiltrated their employees and gave the land to government on the basis...

The oil prices fell on Tuesday, as traders assessed the impact of Western sanctions against Russian flows, and supply concerns eased after the loading of cargo at a Russian hub was resumed following a drone strike in Ukraine. Brent crude futures fell 46 cents or 0.72% to $63.74 per barrel as of 0420 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 45 cents or 0.75% to $59.46 per barrel. According to two industry sources, and LSEG data, the Russian port of Novorossiysk resumed oil loadings Sunday after a two-day interruption caused by a Ukrainian drone and missile attack. In a...

The Information reported Monday that Databricks, a data analytics company, is in discussions to raise money at a valuation exceeding $130 billion. This is about 30% more than the last round of financing two months ago. The company refused to comment on the article. The report stated that Databricks had not signed any term sheets with investment firms. Could not confirm immediately the report. In September, the San Francisco company closed a $1 billion funding round, which valued it at 100 billion dollars, making it the most valuable private company in the world. Databricks announced at the time that it...

The oil prices fell on Tuesday, as traders assessed the impact of Western sanctions against Russian flows, and supply concerns waned after the loading of cargo at a Russian hub was resumed following a drone strike in Ukraine. Brent crude futures fell 28 cents or 0.4% to $63.92 per barrel as of 1100 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) were down 26 cents or 0.4% at $59.65 per barrel. According to two industry sources, and LSEG data, the Russian port of Novorossiysk resumed oil loadings Sunday following a two-day suspension triggered a Ukrainian drone and missile attack. In...

BHP Group announced on Monday that it has decided to abandon its pursuit of a possible merger with Anglo American following preliminary discussions with Anglo American's board. The company stated that it believes a tie up would have created value for its stakeholders and offered "strong strategic benefits". However, it added that the strength of their own organic growth strategy remains strong. BHP tried to take over Anglo for $49 billion last year. However, the target refused multiple offers and BHP withdrew. BHP should assess the possibility of selling such assets. It does seem a bit messy on the BHP's...

A union official announced on Friday that American Industrial Partners, an investment firm based in the United States, plans to sell or list Aluminium Dunkerque on the stock exchange, France's biggest aluminium plant. Johan Vlietinck told CGT that the local management had informed the workers of AIP’s plan. Bloomberg News reported earlier that AIP considered a sale or listing of Aluminium Dunkerque. The company acquired the property four years ago after GFG Alliance defaulted on its debts. GFG Alliance is owned by commodities tycoon Sanjeev Gupta. A spokesperson from AIP France stated that the fund did not deny the reports...

The competition for essential minerals has now reached the lowest part of the metal supply chain. Maros SEFCIOVIC, EU Trade chief, says that aluminium scrap is a strategic commodity. Over a million tons of aluminium scrap is exported from the EU every year. Sefcovic, the European Commission's Director of Communications and Public Affairs, described this as "a measure that is balanced" in order to keep more recyclable materials in Europe. The industry association European Aluminium blames the United States for the price differential created by the country's import duties, which is causing more European scraps to be exported to the...

Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or specific stocks. ABIONYX SA: The biotech company Abionyx Pharma has announced a global strategic partnership exclusively with Sebia. This partnership will transform sepsis diagnostics and validate new test for early sepsis detection. Financial terms and milestones remain confidential. Boiron SA, a homeopathic drug manufacturer, announced that Thierry Boiron will step down from his position as Deputy CEO on December 31, 2025. EIFFAGE SA. French construction company Eiffage has won a second contract for the construction of infrastructure at the Madrid street circuit, Spain....

Bosch said that thousands of employees are facing production interruptions due to a global shortage of chips caused by a dispute with the manufacturer Nexperia. China and the Netherlands are locked in a fight for control of Nexperia. However, there is hope that the standoff will ease with the Dutch government sending an official delegation to Beijing to try to reach a compromise. Bosch reported that it was experiencing disruptions at three of its sites: Ansbach, Salzgitter and Braga (both in Germany) and Braga (Portugal). It said: "We continue to do everything possible to serve our clients and to avoid...

ABB, the Swiss engineering group that has been restructured to focus on industrial automation and electrification, raised its profit margin target on Tuesday. The company is targeting an operating profit margin before interest, taxes and amortization of 18-22% in the next few year, up from 16-19%. ABB confirmed that it is on track to meet its sales targets. ABB's products are used in factories, buildings, mines, ports, and cruise ships to power them. ABB shares fell by 2.3% during pre-market trading. Analysts at Zuercher Cantonalbank stated that "there may have been higher expectation". ABB, based in Zurich, said it expects...

Rio Tinto, Australia's largest alumina refinery company, announced on Tuesday that it would cut production at its Yarwun plant in Queensland by 40 percent starting October of next year. This will extend the life of the plant to 2035 while allowing time for modernization. Under current production rates, Yarwun’s tailings storage facility, which is used to store mining waste, will reach full capacity in 2031. The company said it had looked into options for a new tailings facility but that the required investment was "substantial" and "not currently economically viable." Rio Tinto stated that the reduction will affect around 180...

The mines ministry announced that the Democratic Republic of Congo extended for another six months the ban on trading minerals from dozens of sites of artisanal gold mining in the conflict-hit provinces of North and South Kivu. The extension increases compliance pressure on global supply chain for tin tantalum and titanium, which are key inputs to the electronic, automotive, and aerospace industries. According to an order signed by Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba on November 3, the ban introduced in February is still in effect because there is evidence that the illegal supply of mines funds armed groups in eastern...

According to the Swiss government, a new trade framework agreement will allow the United States to reduce its tariffs from 39% on Swiss goods down from 15%. U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer had said that the U.S. "basically reached a deal" with Switzerland and would reveal details later on Friday. The Swiss government announced that it would soon announce details. Greer told CNBC that the deal will see Switzerland moving "a lot" of manufacturing to the United States, including pharmaceuticals, gold-smelting and railway equipment. We're excited about the deal, and what it means for American manufacturing. Greer stated that the...

On Friday, the U.N. Human Rights Council held a special session to discuss the situation in al-Fashir in Sudan. States will be considering a request for an investigation into the reported mass murders that occurred as the city of Darfur fell under paramilitary control. A draft resolution would include a fact-finding investigation to identify those responsible for alleged violations committed in al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies. In his opening remarks to delegates, U.N. Human Rights Chief urged the international Community to Act. "There's been too much show and pretense, but too little action." "It must...

Ibram, a Brazilian mining lobby group, said on Thursday that the law firm Pogust Goodhead would have to refund 811,000 pounds (about $1 million) after it dropped a London lawsuit filed against Ibram over a dam disaster in 2015. This amount is due to Ibram for the costs incurred as part of a lawsuit filed by 25 Brazilian municipalities represented by PG regarding the collapse of a Samarco dam, a joint-venture between Vale, BHP and Vale, that killed 19 people and contaminated a major river. A London court will announce its decision regarding BHP's responsibility in this case on Friday....

Pensions industry said that proposals from the London Stock Exchange Group, and over 100 British business executives, to encourage pension funds to invest more in UK stocks ignores the interests of savers. Last week, more than 100 senior executives, including the chairs of Anglo American, Barclays and Compass Group's CEO wrote to Britain’s finance minister urging him to take action to reverse the decline of buying domestic shares. The executives said that it was a loss of cash for companies, a way to export wealth and a threat to economic growth. They proposed, in response, that defined contribution pension plans...