Kenneth Wong

Vodafone Said to Raise Kabel Deutschland Offer

Vodafone Group Plc raised its preliminary offer to buy Kabel Deutschland Holding AG to about 7.5 billion euros ($10 billion) to persuade Germany’s largest cable company to enter talks, said people familiar with the bid.

Telecom Italia Said to Face Regulatory Concern on Tariff Request

Italy’s telecommunications authority may oppose Telecom Italia SpA’s efforts to keep the rate it charges competitors for grid access once the company spins off the fixed-line network, according to two people familiar with the situation.

France Telecom Chief Richard Gets Board Backing for Top Job

France Telecom SA’s board voted to keep Chief Executive Stephane Richard in the top job after he was charged last week with fraud linked to his time at the French finance ministry five years ago.

TV Remote Steals IPhone Spot With European Carriers

Move over, iPhone. At France Telecom SA’s flagship store facing Paris’s Madeleine church, fancy handsets have been shoved aside by the TV remote control, once an unlikely candidate for star product.

Solarworld Jumps on Reports of Qatar Interest in Holding

Solarworld AG, Germany’s biggest maker of solar panels, rose the most in four months after newspapers reported that Qatar Solar Technologies will help finance a restructuring by acquiring a 30 percent stake.

Telefonica Climbs After Report on AT&T Approach

Telefonica SA, Spain’s biggest phone company, rose the most in three months in Madrid trading after newspaper El Mundo reported that AT&T Inc. made a takeover approach that was rejected by the country’s government.

Vivendi Pursues Etisalat Talks as Qtel Withdraws Maroc Bid

Vivendi SA is in talks to sell its stake in Maroc Telecom SA to Emirates Telecommunications Corp. after Qatar Telecom QSC withdrew its offer.

Telkom Reports Largest Non-Mining South Africa Company Loss

Telkom SA SOC Ltd. said full-year losses widened more than fifty-fold to 11.6 billion rand ($1.17 billion) after it wrote down the value of its assets, making it the biggest loss by a South Africa-based non-mining company.

Spain Affirmed at BBB- by S&P on Structural Reform Commitment

Spain’s credit rating was affirmed at BBB- by Standard & Poor’s, which said that the country’s commitment to the implementation of a comprehensive fiscal, structural reform agenda remains strong.

Vodafone Said to Weigh Fastweb Purchase in Internet Push

Vodafone Group Plc, which has approached Germany’s Kabel Deutschland Holding AG about a takeover, is also considering an eventual acquisition of Fastweb SpA in Italy to expand its fixed-line and Internet assets, people familiar with the matter said.

Europe

Spain

Robin Bienenstock

France Telecom

Yen Gains With Oil as Europe Stocks Fluctuate Before Fed

China Billionaire Invests $1.6 Billion in London Land, Boats

European Stocks Fluctuate Before Fed as Nordea Retreats

U.S. Set for Taliban Talks as Afghan Military Takes Lead

Asian Stocks Rise as Topix Rallies on Japanese Exports