Statoil Halts Operations of Two Rigs
Statoil ASA said it would suspend the operations of two offshore
oil-drilling rigs for at least the rest of the year as harsher
industry conditions set in.
Siemens Sells Hearing Aid Unit
German engineering giant Siemens says that it would sell its
hearing aid business to private-equity firm EQT Partners and
Germany's Strüngmann family in a deal valued at $2.68 billion.
Acer Reports Narrow Third-Quarter Profit
Taiwanese personal-computer maker Acer reported a narrow profit
for a third consecutive quarter after cost cuts, though revenue
continued to fall as the global market for personal computers
contracts.
Commerzbank Profit Triples
Commerzbank said that net profit tripled to $280.89 million in
the third quarter. Provisions for bad loans dropped and revenue
increased as the lender braces itself for significant fines from
U.S. investigators.
Credit Agricole Profit Rises
Credit Agricole posted a modest rise in third-quarter net
profit, helped by lower provisions against bad loans in France and
at its Italian consumer credit unit Agos Ducato.
Deutsche Telekom Net Profit Falls
Deutsche Telekom said third-quarter net profit fell 14% as
growth in Europe and Germany was hampered by macroeconomic
conditions, though it reported strong U.S. customer growth.
Adidas Profit Dented by Currency Effects
Adidas says its net profit for the third quarter fell 11% due to
negative currency effects, a slide in sales in its golf division
and increased marketing costs.
China's Bright Food Plans Weetabix IPO
Bright Food, which bought Weetabix Food two years ago, is
planning to list the U.K. breakfast-cereal maker in Hong Kong or
London. The company is also planning a listing of Manassen Foods
Australia Pty.
Munich Re Posts Third-Quarter Net Profit
Germany's Munich reports a 17% rise in third-quarter net profit
because of low disaster costs and raised its guidance for the full
year.
Hermes Third-Quarter Sales Rise
French luxury-goods house Hermes says third-quarter sales grew
10.6% despite sluggish demand in China.
Zurich Insurance Profit Up 3%
Zurich Insurance says profit for the first nine months of the
year rose 3% compared with the same period of 2013, though the
figure slipped during the most recent quarter due to a "tougher"
environment.
Repsol Profit Rises On Refining, Lower Debt Costs
Repsol says its third-quarter adjusted profit rose 41% as the
Spanish oil group benefited from higher refining margins and a drop
in financing costs.
AstraZeneca Raises Earning Guidance for 2014
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca raised its earnings guidance
for the year, as it continues to benefit from the delayed launch of
a rival's copy of one of its best-selling drugs.
Lenovo Group Quarterly Profit Rises 19%
Lenovo Group on Thursday said its net profit for the quarter
through September rose 19% on growing sales of both personal
computers and smartphones.
Two Chinese Banks Raise $3.33B Via Bond Issues
Two Chinese lenders raised a combined $3.33 billion via selling
10-year bonds to boost their Tier-2 capital, according to term
sheets seen by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
