GERMANY

Applied Materials sees solar unit profit in 2010

Applied Materials Inc said on Monday it plans to improve efficiency to cut the cost of producing solar panels below $1 per watt in three years and is on track to post profits at its environmental unit next year.

Europe, U.S., China must take IMF medicine: Trichet

Persuading Europe, the United States and China to accept International Monetary Fund advice on economic polices may be difficult, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Monday.

GM seeks solution for Opel's Antwerp plant

GM Europe is forming a group to discuss the future of Opel's plant in Antwerp, Belgium and will give details on its restructuring plan after talks are concluded, it said on Monday.

New blood tests promise simple cancer detection

Two new blood tests could help doctors detect colon and stomach cancers simply, cheaply and early without the need for invasive procedures or unpleasant examinations, researchers said on Monday.

Daimler keeps Mercedes-Benz Cars margin target -CEO

Daimler's (DAIGn.DE) chief executive is sticking to the company's long-term EBIT profit margin target of 10 percent for its Mercedes-Benz Cars division but is unclear when the company will reach it, he was quoted as saying in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

United Korea economy could pass Japan: Goldman Sachs

A united Korea -- combining Asia's fourth biggest economy with one of its poorest -- could surpass that of Germany or Japan in economic might in the next 30-40 years, U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs said on Monday.

FX Market Watch 21/09/2009

The EURO continues to hold the advantage over the Greenback climbing to a near 12 month highs as neutral to positive data continues to roll out of Europe and investors continue to shy away from the once mighty Big Dollar if favour of risker assets.

Al Qaeda threatens Germany in second online video

Militant Islamist group al Qaeda threatened Germany with attacks for the second time this weekend in an online video criticizing the country for its deployment of troops in Afghanistan, authorities said on Sunday.

Financial regulation tops G20 agenda

President Barack Obama, preparing to meet with other G20 leaders in Pittsburgh, on Saturday stressed the need for regulations to prevent another global economic crisis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel was optimistic agreement could be reached at the summit.

Fed eyes new bank pay rules to fight risk

The Federal Reserve plans new rules on bank pay to curb the type of excessive risk-taking that sparked the global financial crisis and triggered international demands for action.

Sberbank-Opel deal meaningless without tech transfer

Russia's participation in the Opel deal may be a waste of time if Western technologies are not transferred to the country, German Gref, cheif executive of deal participant Sberbank (SBER03.MM) said on Saturday.

Continental wants to keep tyre ops, ContiTech-CEO

Debt-laded Continental AG, a German auto supplier controlled by Schaeffler, wants to keep its portfolio structure in the current from, new chief executive Elmar Degenhart was quoted on Saturday as saying.

Opel labor to start restructuring talks next week

First talks between European unions and delegates from General Motors and Magna (MGa.TO) begin next week over plans to cut 10,500 jobs at Opel save labor costs in the hundreds of millions of euros.

GM workers in Brazil strike over wages

About 19,000 General Motors Co [GM.UL] workers in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo went on strike on Friday, demanding better wages after failing to reach an agreement with the company.

International music star Mika sets sights on U.S.

At first impression, the man no one knows as Michael Penniman seems uncharacteristically quiet. As he takes a well-earned break from rehearsing for a tour to promote one of the year's most eagerly anticipated music releases, he seems tired and anxious, a far cry from his usual ebullience.

G20 to seek unity on economic exit strategy

World leaders will probably agree next week to work together when the time comes to end their massive economic stimulus programs and they were also moving on Friday toward a stiffer line on bankers' pay.

Groups call for EU scrutiny of Google book deal

EU regulators should look into the book settlement that Google Inc reached with a group of U.S. writers and publishers last October because the deal will create a de facto monopoly, European opponents to the book deal said on Friday.

Fed eyes wide-ranging bank pay rules to fight risk

The Federal Reserve plans new rules on bank pay to curb the type of excessive risk-taking that sparked the global financial crisis and triggered international demands for action.

Ahmadinejad says Holocaust a lie, Israel has no future

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a lie Friday, raising the stakes against Israel just as world powers try to decide how to deal with the nuclear ambitions of an Iran in political turmoil.

Fed eyes wide-ranging bank pay rules to combat risk

The U.S. Federal Reserve plans new rules on bank pay to curb excessive risk-taking, which is blamed for sparking the global financial crisis and has triggered international demands for action.

Lobby calls for EU scrutiny of Google book deal

EU regulators should look into the book settlement that Google reached with a group of U.S. writers and publishers last October because the deal will create a de facto monopoly, lobby group ICOMP said on Friday.

Opel labour to start restructuring talks next week

First talks between European unions and delegates from General Motors and Magna begin next week over plans to cut 10,500 jobs at Opel save labour costs in the hundreds of millions of euros.