Most plausible trade buyers for the troubled Spanish lender's 12 per cent stake would be the fast-growing Gulf airlines

A deal with Aer Lingus was blocked five years ago because carriers were important operators on short-haul routes and regulators may take some persuading now

Since the beginning of 2010, the average manager has returned 7 per cent – the longest stretch of disappointment the industry has suffered

The capital investor has raised a €350m fund aimed at early-stage technology, bringing its total raised in the past 12 months to €1bn

Until transparency on assets and political certainty are achieved, such purchases remain a leveraged bet on a political outcome

Brady Dougan's future under scrutiny as analysts question lender's ability to strengthen its balance sheet after central bank's call to boost capital cushion

Swiss lender reassesses its options after the country's central bank said it might need to improve its capital position

French insurer's investment arm aims to scoop up a flood of private equity interests being sold at a discount by banks and financial institutions

Attempts to create a unified patent system could be set back by a decade if member states fail to agree a final package by the end of June

The sale of a 20% stake in Apatit, the fertiliser producer, is put on hold after two of the three bidders withdrew from the tender at the last minute

With banks already reeling under regulatory pressure after the last crisis, the last thing they need are measures that will only add to the burden

Banks could dodge new rules and distort the market by raising basic pay, shifting operations away from Europe or promoting second-rate people