The economy has shrunk, but not by much and less than other crisis-torn states such as Ireland, Estonia or Latvia, writes Tim Harford

Volkswagen is to absorb the German sports car maker with a €4.5bn deal, ending a saga that has overshadowed both groups since 2005

Concerns centre on the banking system where, unlike in most central European countries, the biggest banks remain state-controlled

Commodities Trading Commission expresses doubts after the US dollar euribor was set at more than double the level of the UK benchmark on Friday

French group teams up with China Guangdong to bid for the 6-gigawatt Horizon project that was put up for sale by German utilities RWE and EON

France's move to raise some €550m through a one-off tax on inventories could help depleted government coffers but hurt the struggling refining industry

Shares increase 26% after the European Commission grants long-awaited marketing approval to the group's Flutiform asthma medication

The European Securities Markets Authority said this week it planned to inspect Fitch, Moody's and S&P on the way they evaluate European Union banks

Mangrove to target second-tier clubs as well as football-related business such as player agencies, academies and media rights concerns

Company and two ex-executives face investigation over restructuring programme alleged to have caused 35 staff to kill themselves in 2008 and 2009

Jean-René Fourtou, chairman of Vivendi, takes charge of the bid for the record labels in attempt to persuade regulators not to block £1.2bn deal

The €500m recapitalisation of the frozen foods business follows the collapse of sale talks with rival investors including Blackstone and BC Partners