Reuters Company News

Brazil's infrastructure minister said on Monday the country still wants to privatize 43 airports by early next year, even as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the air transportation industry.

U.S. drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said on Monday it would repurchase about $5 billion of its shares directly from France's Sanofi, without altering their over-a-decade-long partnership.

* Lufthansa shares up 7.5% following long-awaited deal (Recasts, adds quotes from economy minister, share price)

Oil prices edged up on Monday in sluggish trading with holidays in Singapore, London and New York, as rising concerns over demand recovery offset supply cuts.

U.S. company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said it had agreed to repurchase approximately $5 billion of its shares directly from French drugmaker Sanofi.

Sanofi SA said on Monday it would sell its stake in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, but would not change its ongoing collaboration.

Finland's long-delayed Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) nuclear reactor was hit by another setback after the nation's safety watchdog reported valve problems in a component involved in the cooling process.

Toyota Motor Corp's Mexico unit is in a preparation phase for the gradual re-start of its operations in the states of Baja California and Guanajuato, a spokesman told Reuters on Monday.

* Lagardere shares closed up 16.15% (Adds comments from a source close to Vivendi and Lagardere shares closing price)

Pipeline operator TC Energy Corp said on Monday it had completed the sale of a 65% stake in its Coastal GasLink pipeline, which will move gas from northeast British Columbia to the Pacific Coast.

* Lagardere jumps as LVMH's Arnault to buy stake (Updates to market close)

* But few restaurants open and businesses fret for future (Updates tally, Melia share price, adds context on quarantine)

Stocks gained modestly on Monday with many countries on holiday as German business morale rebounded strongly in May, offering a glimpse of optimism to battered investors of what lay beyond weeks of economic lockdowns.

Brazil's Petrobras could sell its stake in petrochemical firm Braskem SA by the end of 2020, the head of the state-run oil company said during a webinar hosted by a Brazilian brokerage on Monday.

Germany's rescue package for flagship carrier Lufthansa is a "very, very good solution" that is taking into account the needs of both the company and taxpayers, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Monday.

Latin American currencies firmed on Monday on hopes of an economic recovery as more economies emerged from pandemic-induced lockdowns, although simmering U.S.-China trade tensions tempered risk appetite. Brazil's real surged 2.1%, extending gains to a fourth session, while Mexico's peso appeared to be headed for its sixth straight winning session. Chile's currency gained 0.8%. In line with broader emerging market peers, regional stocks rallied.

French carmaker Renault could unveil job cuts and plants closures on Thursday as the company looks to save 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in costs, a representative for far-left union CGT said on Monday.

The Mexican unit of Nissan Motor Co Ltd unit said on Monday that it is preparing to gradually reopen under strict safety measures, beginning with activities that are directly related to vehicle and autoparts manufacturing. (Reporting by Sharay Angulo and Daina Beth Solomon)

Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo is expected to give a preliminary green light at a board meeting on Tuesday to a state-backed 6.3 billion euro ($6.9 billion) three-year loan for Fiat Chrysler, a source close to the matter said.

Canada's main stock index rose on Monday as investors looked to an eventual economic recovery from the coronavirus with more countries scaling back lockdown measures.