Google has partnered with with French telecommunications firm Orange through its corporate venture fund to invest in start-ups in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Orange said Thursday that its 350 million euro ($409 million) venture capital fund, called Orange Digital Ventures, would jointly assess investment opportunities in industries like network connectivity, cybersecurity, cloud, artificial […]

The United States is likely to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the EU Thursday, according to a source familiar with the decision. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation, said the tariff decision is coming this morning and is “99.9” percent done. The U.S. […]

Euro zone inflation jumped by far more than expected in May on higher energy costs, bringing relief to the European Central Bank after market turbulence that has jeopardized its planned exit from a lavish stimulus program. Inflation in the 19 countries sharing the euro rose to 1.9 percent from 1.2 percent in April, EU statistics […]

Italian assets were on the rise Thursday on the back of hopes that the country is close to forming a government. Technocrat politician Carlo Cottarelli, who at one stage was himself prime minister-designate, said in a statement that “new possibilities for the birth of a political government have emerged.” This has been taken as an […]

Dannon has settled its lawsuit against a former senior sales executive it accused of stealing confidential business strategies and employee salary data before jumping to yogurt-making rival Chobani. The confidential settlement between Dannon, a unit of France’s Danone, and Federico Muyshondt, who oversaw sales in the eastern U.S. and to supermarket chain Kroger, was disclosed […]

President Donald Trump is preparing to impose a total ban on German luxury carmakers from the U.S. market, according to an exclusive report by German magazine WirtschaftsWoche. Citing several unnamed U.S. and European diplomats, the weekly business magazine reported that Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron last month he would maintain his trade policy with […]

Spain is the next country set to test the resilience of southern Europe, after recent political convulsions in Italy battered global financial markets. Unlike Rome’s power struggle, where markets were fearful a fresh election could be framed as a de facto referendum on Italy’s role in Europe, Spain’s political drama hinges on a no-confidence vote […]

Home-sharing platform Airbnb has been increasingly under fire from city authorities attempting to limit residential rentals through the online marketplace. Arguing in the company’s defense this week, Airbnb co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Nathan Blecharczyk told CNBC in Paris that this is largely a result of “misinformation” and hurts ordinary people. Varying local regulations, […]

Italy’s political turmoil could hit the continent harder than the Greek financial crisis and the Brexit vote, according to the finance minister of Latvia. A week of political turbulence in Italy saw dramatic repricing of the country’s assets and has triggered fears of market contagion across the entirety of Europe. Asked during a panel discussion […]

European stocks are set to open higher Thursday morning, as elevated concerns over Italy’s deepening political crisis showed signs of abating. The FTSE 100 is seen 32 points higher at 7,693; the CAC is expected to open up around 21 points at 5,429 while the DAX is poised to start 52 points higher at 12,797, […]