A statement from the office of the British Prime Minister David Cameron revealed that 6,000 mortgage applications, with over 80% of them as first-time buyers, applied for home loans under the government's Help-to-Buy program.
Europe
Department store chain House of Fraser eyes IPO by end of year
House of Fraser, a 160-year-old department store chain based in UK, expects a floatation by the end of 2014. The British retailer however remains in exclusive talks with French peer Galeries Lafayette on a possible buyout.
Lufthansa France workers to go on strike this weekend at Charles de Gaulle Airport
French unions led by the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA) have called on Lufthansa France workers at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to go on strike this weekend. Workers are protesting against outsourcing ground operations, which would threaten 199 jobs.
EnerCap-backed Geo Renewables raises $55.4 million in debt to fund Polish wind farms
Geo Renewables SA, backed by private equity fund EnerCap Power Fund I LP, said it was granted $55.4 million in debt by Polish lender Bank Ochrony Srodowishka SA. The said fund will be used to finance part of the construction costs of two Polish wind farms.
Chrysler merger sees Fiat's shares jump, worries on latter's debt increases
Despite the relatively low price Fiat managed to score in its buyout of Chrysler Group LLC, analysts said the ballooning debt of Fiat should be something to worry about.
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Cyprotex, a drug testing company based in the UK, on Thursday announced that it had purchased American rival CeeTox. Cyprotex will initially pay £630,000 to the North American Science Associates for CeeTox.
Debenhams PLC, Britain's second-largest department store chain, on Thursday announced the resignation of its chief financial officer Simon Herrick. Herrick had quit his post two days after the retail chain issued its second profit warning in less than a year.
ARX Equity Partners, a private equity firm based in Czech Republic, has sold its controlling stake in film extruder Ergis-Eurofilms SA. Ergis claims to be the largest film extrusion group in the country.
New York-based cosmetics company Revlon, which has posted profit declines in 2011 and 2012, will close its operations in China, cutting at least 1,100 jobs. News of the shutdown came a few months after Revlon bought Spanish beauty care company Colomer Group.
Northern & Shell, the owner of Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd., is reportedly considering to put up the TV broadcaster for sale for £700 million. Northern & Shell acquired Channel 5 for £103.5 million in 2010.
Private equity companies are buying the debt of the companies they own so they can become creditors and have a second shot at making money on their investments.
Italian automaker Fiat SpA has agreed to buy the remaining stake of Chrysler Group held by the United Auto Workers retiree healthcare trust, paving the way for both carmakers to finally merge.
Which emerging and frontier market countries were the best stock performers in dollar terms in 2013?
Which emerging and frontier market countries were the best stock performers in dollar terms? Time for an end of year quiz. Which emerging and frontier market countries were the best stock performers in dollar terms?Nil points if you said China, with its colossal internal market, recession-free Poland, or oil-rich Nigeria.
Social media accounts and internet downloads should be considered part of a person's estate and be included in wills to be handed down as inheritance.
