Reuters UK Business

(Reuters) -British retailer WH Smith on Wednesday reported a 5% rise in total like-for-like revenue for the third quarter, with North America up 2%, driven by travel demand that lifted sales across its product range despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT The pickup in sales comes amid concerns over North America travel at a …

UK’s WH Smith posts Q3 sales rise on strong travel demand Read More »

PRAGUE (Reuters) -The Czech anti-monopoly office UOHS has started an investigation into a potential cartel agreement among three major Czech energy suppliers, it said on Wednesday. A spokesman said the case followed up on an initial probe last year in a case when UOHS inspected premises of electricity producers CEZ, EPH and Veolia Energie over …

Czech watchdog launches formal probe into collusion in heat and power plant auction Read More »

By Nathan Vifflin (Reuters) -A consortium of more than 42 organizations, led by Nokia, will work on an unmanned drone project aimed at protecting and bolstering the resilience of Europe’s most critical infrastructures, the Finnish network equipment maker said on Wednesday. The member organizations, which include start-ups and universities, will build new capabilities such as …

Nokia, Nvidia, defence firms back EU-funded drone infrastructure oversight project Read More »

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany’s services sector recorded its sharpest contraction in activity in 2-1/2 years in May as weaker demand and heightened uncertainty took their toll, a survey showed on Wednesday. The final HCOB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the services sector fell to 47.1 in May, down from 49.0 in April, marking its lowest level …

German services sector contracts at fastest rate in 2-1/2 years, PMI shows Read More »

PARIS (Reuters) – France’s services sector contracted in May a little less quickly than first estimated, although business growth expectations fell to a five-year low amid uncertainty over trade tariffs, an S&P Global survey showed on Wednesday. The HCOB final services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for France rose to 48.9 points in May from 47.3 …

French service sector downturn eases in May but optimism wanes, final PMI shows Read More »

ROME (Reuters) -Italy’s service sector expanded for a sixth month running in May and at the fastest pace for nearly a year, a survey showed on Wednesday, offering hope for firmer growth in the euro zone’s third-largest economy. The HCOB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for services rose to 53.2 in May from 52.9 in April, …

Italy service sector sees stronger growth in May, PMI shows Read More »

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Volvo Cars sold 59,822 cars in May, down 12% from a year earlier, the Sweden-based company said on Wednesday. Volvo Cars, which is majority-owned by China’s Geely, said in a statement sales of fully electric cars fell 27% to account for 21% of total sales volumes. Sales of electrified cars as a whole, …

Volvo Cars sales fall 12% in May Read More »

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Norway’s government said on Wednesday that it had sold its remaining shares in Norwegian Air for 892 million crowns ($87.80 million), divesting a stake stemming from the airline’s pandemic-era restructuring. The Norwegian state, represented by Norway’s ministry of trade, industry and fisheries said in a statement that it had sold its remaining 65.58 …

Norway sells its stake in Norwegian Air for $87.8 million Read More »