LONDON (AFX) - Here are the top stories on AFX News
Euro zone Q4 GDP up 0.9 pct from Q3, unchanged vs provisional
BRUSSELS (AFX) - Euro zone GDP grew 0.9 pct in the fourth quarter from the third quarter, and was up 3.3 pct year-on-year, EU statistics office Eurostat said.
The figures are unchanged from Eurostat's provisional estimate, published on Feb 13.
France Telecom reiterates 2007 guidance as it confirms 2006 results
PARIS (AFX) - France Telecom reiterated its 2007 guidance of 6.8 bln eur of organic cash flow generation as it confirmed full year results that were released earlier in a preliminary form.
It plans to maintain its full year dividend for 2007 at the 2006 level of 1.20 eur per share.
Official: Firms review Chrysler finances
DETROIT (AP) - Buyout experts from two private equity firms are meeting this week with Chrysler Group executives about possibly making a bid to buy DaimlerChrysler AG's struggling U.S. unit, a company official said Tuesday.
The official, who did not want to be identified because the talks are confidential, told The Associated Press that Cerberus Capital Management LP representatives visited the company's Auburn Hills headquarters Monday to review the automaker's finances, while Blackstone Group officials are to arrive later in the week.
ABN Amro Capital, Allianz Capital buy Sdu from Dutch govt for 415 mln eur
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - ABN Amro Holding NV's ABN Amro Capital and Allianz Capital Partners said they agreed to each acquire 50 pct of publishing and security identification group Sdu from the Dutch State for 415 mln eur.
The companies noted that the acquisition by Sdu of Wolters Kluwer's 25.9 pct minority stake in Sdu Publishing, which was also announced this morning, forms part of the buyout.
PPR sells Kadeos unit to Accor for 210 mln eur
PARIS (AFX) - Retail goods company PPR said it has agreed to sell its Kadeos unit, which specialises in gift vouchers and cards, to Accor for 210 mln eur.
The move followed an offer from Accor. The transaction is expected to close in mid-March.
Airbus received 97 orders in Jan-Feb versus 64 for Boeing
PARIS (AFX) - Airbus said it received 97 orders for planes in the first two months of the year, compared with the 64 orders reported by Boeing as of Feb 27.
EADS unit Airbus registered seven orders in February following the already-announced 90 orders in January.
Fiat suspends bond issue till markets 'rational' - CEO
MILAN (AFX) - Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne said the car maker has suspended a bond issue announced last month but is ready to re-propose the operation when the financial markets are "rational" again.
"We haven't stopped the bond issue, but we have suspended it," Marchionne said at the Geneva motor show.
BMW sees 'very moderate' growth in Q1 unit sales
GENEVA (AFX) - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG expects to post a "very moderate" growth in unit sales in the first quarter this year, chief executive Norbert Reithofer told reporters.
He said the "real impulse" for unit sales growth would come only from the second quarter, when new car models are expected to be launched.
Porsche CEO sees 2006 H2 opg exceeding year earlier
FRANKFURT (AFX) - Porsche AG's chief executive Wendelin Wiedeking said he sees the company's operating profits for the second half of the financial year exceeding those for the same period in 2005.
"I am very optimistic for the second half of the year," said Wiedeking at the Geneva motor show.
French govt sees deficit narrowing faster than expected in 2007
PARIS (AFX) - The French finance ministry said it expects the country's public sector deficit to narrow sharply over the next two years, dropping to 2.4 pct of GDP this year from its previous forecast of 2.5 pct and then to 1.7 pct in 2008.
The government estimates the 2006 deficit at below 2.7 pct of GDP.
Novartis receives FDA approval for blood pressure drug Tekturna
ZURICH (AFX) - Novartis AG said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light for Tekturna, making the US the first country to approve the first new type of blood-pressure medicine in more than a decade.
Tekturna received FDA approval for treatment of high blood pressure as monotherapy, or in combination with other high blood pressure medications, the Swiss pharma group said, adding that the drug is expected to be available from March in US pharmacies as 150 mg and 300 mg tablets.
