Gazprom 2014 net profits plunge on ruble, Ukraine

Moscow (AFP) - Russia's gas giant Gazprom on Wednesday reported net profits in 2014 plunged sevenfold over the previous year, weighed down by fallout from the Ukraine crisis and the shrinking value of the ruble.

E.U. Charges Google With Violating Antitrust Laws

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s antitrust chief on Wednesday formally accused Google of abusing its dominance in web searches to the detriment of competitors and began official proceedings into whether its Android smartphone software forces phone makers to favor the company’s own services and applications.

Europe takes on Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon

Europe is in the midst of a massive tussle with American tech giants. The European Union is getting increasingly worried about the dominance of Big Tech and has launched a program to boost the European tech sector.

Apple, Spotify Streaming Music Deals Said to Be Probed by EU

The world’s largest record labels are being questioned by European Union regulators as part of a probe into their deals with music-streaming services from Apple Inc. and Spotify Ltd., according to three people familiar with the case.

Apple to Fiat EU Tax Cases Should Be Finished Ahead of New Ones

The European Union should complete its four tax probes before it can “decide what to do next,” EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said.

Full investigation into the dominance of 'big four' UK banks confirmed

Britain's biggest banks face the prospect of being broken up by the competition regulator, in spite of warnings that this would be hugely expensive and hold back lending to the economy.

European commission to probe Amazon’s tax status in Luxembourg

The European commission has widened its investigation into the tax treatment of multinationals, opening a formal investigation into whether online retailer Amazon’s complex tax arrangements in Luxembourg are so generous as to amount to state aid for the $146bn (£90bn) group.

Lloyds Bank's Horta-Osorio defends £1.7m bonus to BBC

Lloyds Bank chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio says in an exclusive interview with the BBC that his bonus, worth £1.7m, is aligned with taxpayers' interests.

European Commission rejects Google's latest proposals to settle antitrust case

The European Commission has rejected Google's revised proposals to settle a three-year antitrust row, its competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia said today.

Samsung and Philips among tech firms raided by EU

Samsung and Philips have revealed that they were among several consumer electronics companies raided recently by European Commission inspectors.

Google offers rivals more space to get EU deal

Google has agreed to give rivals more space on its website, raising the chances of a deal with Europe's antitrust authorities and reducing the risk of a hefty fine.

China's Huawei to add 5,500 jobs in Europe in five years

BEIJING: Chinese telecommmunications equipment maker Huawei plans to create 5,500 jobs in Europe within five years as the company expands its services in the region, state-owned newspaper China Daily said on Saturday.

Corsair in lead to buy business bank from RBS

The Royal Bank of Scotland is very close to deciding to sell to Corsair the small business bank it has been forced by the European Commission to create and hive off.

Lloyds Bank privatisation begins

The government's sale of Lloyds Banking Group has begun, with big investors being offered 6% of the bank.

Cisco challenges Microsoft buy of Skype in EU court

BRUSSELS: Cisco Systems Inc, the world's leading network equipment maker, will try to convince Europe's second highest court on Wednesday that it should overturn the EU's approval of Microsoft's purchase of Skype.

EU quizzes telcos on Apple sales tactics against rivals

(Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are seeking information whether Apple's iPhone distribution deals with mobile telecoms operators may be aimed at shutting out rival smartphones makers, in a move which could lead to a formal investigation into Apple.

Oil company offices raided in EU pricing probe

The offices of several firms involved in the oil market have been raided by European Commission officials.

Google rivals criticise offer to end EU competition investigation

Google's rivals have begun to weigh in on the detail of concessions it has offered to European competition watchdogs, as the search engine aims to avoid costly litigation.

Microsoft accuses Google of pushing services to Android

Microsoft has accused rival Google of pushing Android handset makers to use its applications such as YouTube and Maps.

European Union mulls cut in executive salaries of listed companies

BRUSSELS: After reaching an agreement last week to cap bankers' bonuses, the European Union plans to rein in the salaries of managers and board members of all stock exchange listed companies across the EU block.