Financial News

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Crucell NV: SAYS IN FRIENDLY MERGER DISCUSSIONS WITH WYETH SAYS DISCUSSIONS IN PRELIMINARY STAGE, NO CERTAINTY OF A DEAL SAYS UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED "IN DUE COURSE" ((New York Equities Desk; tel: +1 646 223 6000)) (For more news about Crucell NV click here:) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistrib ...

NEW YORK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Dutch vaccine maker Crucell NV said on Wednesday it is in friendly merger discussions with U.S. drugmaker Wyeth, but noted the talks were at a preliminary stage and there is no certainty a deal will result. Crucell, one of the world's few remaining independent vaccine makers, confirmed the talks in a short release, providing no details and saying it would provi ...

Nick Goodway and Rosamund Urwin, Evening Standard7 January 2009, 11:12am More than 3500 jobs were axed today as womenswear retailer viyella collapsed into administration and a host of other companies culled staff. Less tasty now: former fishmonger Mitch Tonks founded the company in 1994 WANT TO KNOW MORE? Good Food Guide: Best value restaurants City Focus: Greggs takes the biscuit OTHER STORIES M&S man Rose fends off talk of a takeover Stock market report: Wednesda ...

(AFX UK Focus) 2009-01-07 16:30 BRIEF-Banco Popolare denies UBI merger idea

DUBLIN, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Irish airlines Ryanair and Aer Lingus held talks on Tuesday over Ryanair's 750 million euro ($1 billion) takeover bid, the two carriers said on Wednesday, and Aer Lingus repeated it was rejecting the offer. "Aer Lingus explained to Ryanair at the meeting how the bid fundamentally undervalues the airline, its robust financial position, ignores the substantial c ...

MILAN, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Reports of a possible merger between Italian cooperative banks UBI Banca and Banco Popolare are groundless, UBI Banca said on Wednesday. "At the behest of Consob, in relation to press agency reports published today, UBI Banca once again confirms that the idea of an aggregation with Banco Popolare is without foundation," UBI said in its statement.  ...

(AFX UK Focus) 2009-01-07 16:27 UPDATE 1-UBI says idea of merger with Banco Popolare groundless

STOCKS NEWS Reuters Results diary Stocks on the move Real-time Equity News 15:57GMT 07Jan2009-Lloyds/HBOS arbitrage wiped out as deal near --------------------------------------------------------------- The discount of HBOS shares to its takeover partner Lloyds TSB is almost wiped out as the deal nears completion and increased liquidity in the stocks  ...

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The federal government's takeover of housing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will contribute about $240 billion to the record $1.186 trillion U.S. budget deficit this fiscal year, the Congressional Budget Office forecast on Wednesday. CBO, Congress' nonpartisan budget analyst, also said government outlays this year will include more than $180 billio ...

NEW YORK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks on the move on Wednesday: TIME WARNER INC Shares of the media company fell 6.4 percent to $10.28 after it forecast a fourth-quarter loss and lowered its outlook. SUPERVALU Shares rose 2 percent to $15.39 after the company reported adjusted earnings that beat expectations. ORBITZ WORLDWIDE Shares of Orbitz fell after the company named a new chief e ...