France PM Valls pushes key economic reforms through

The French prime minister has resorted to a rarely used emergency procedure to push through labour market reforms without a parliamentary vote.

Greece requests euro zone loan extension, offers big concessions

Greece formally requested a six-month extension to its euro zone loan agreement on Thursday as it races to avoid running out of cash within weeks and overcome resistance from skeptical partners led by Germany.

Greek central bank says 'absolutely no problem' with banks

(Reuters) - Greek central bank governor Yannis Stournaras said on Thursday that Greek banks were solid and under control, a day after the European Central Bank denied them use of Greek bonds as collateral for loans.

CORPORATE FINANCE: SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUNDS PREPARE TO TAKE MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN M&A

Sovereign wealth funds could play a big supporting role as global mergers and acquisitions try to get back on track following a dramatic slowdown in M&A activity during the credit crisis and global recession. While they are not about to become swashbuckling barbarians at corporate gates, SWFs are joining together in “clubs” to cooperate on strategic investments and takeovers.

UNREST IN EGYPT AND SUEZ CANAL COULD HAVE MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT

Defense analysts agree that the Egyptian uprising against Hosni Mubarak does not yet threaten the Suez Canal, which remains essential to U.S. energy security. While Egypt is not among the region's oil producing nations, if the Mubarak regime is replaced by a strongly anti-American regime, access to the Suez Canal could hypothetically be restricted to tanker ships en route to energy markets in the United States. This would redirect American-bound oil tankers to a perilous 6-8 week trek around the Horn of Africa.