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Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA has signed a $4.9 billion deal to buy the majority of Brazilian mining company Vale S.A.'s aluminum operations, officials said Sunday.

Oslo-based Norsk Hydro said it will pay $1.1 billion in cash for the operations and give Vale shares in Norsk Hydro representing 22 percent of the company.

Considering the shares' value April 30, the total value of
Shares of Q-Cells rallied 7% on Wednesday after the German solar-cell maker said it expects to increase its sales and operating income this year.

Q-Cells (DE:QCE 7.72, +0.58, +8.05%) expects to grow its sales to between 1 billion euros ($1.35 billion) and 1.2 billion euros in 2010. It also projects a "significant improvement" in operating income.
European shares were mildly lower on Wednesday as investors eyed a mixed batch of earnings, with Greece's fiscal situation still front-and-center following reports the country will take new austerity measures.

After gaining for the last three sessions, the Stoxx Europe 600 index(ST:SXXP 250.64, -0.01, -.00%) traded down 0.1% at 250.30.
Analyzing third quarter results released today, we reaffirm estimated Net Present Value (NPV) of $64 a share for buy-recommended Gazprom (OGZPY.PK). On that basis, unlevered appreciation potential is 120% to a McDep Ratio of 1.0 where stock price would equal NPV. Unlevered cash flow (Ebitda) met expectations from three months ago with oil increasing its share to 39%. Natural gas volume and price
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, said it has had a challenging start to 2010 with U.S. volumes under pressure after unveiling mixed fourth-quarter earnings buoyed by a sharp increase in Brazilian sales.

The maker of Budweiser, Stella Artois and Becks said on Thursday it expected to sell slightly more beer this year than last, but that profit growth would be only a single-digit
Millipore (MIL Quote) has reached an agreement to be acquired by Germany's Merck for $107 a share in cash, or a total of $7.2 billion, including debt.

Merck's agreement to buy Millipore, a maker of biotech equipment, follows reports last week that Millipore was in talks to be acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO Quote). The deal's value was reported as $6 billion, excluding debt.
Shares of German solar companies declined on Wednesday, as the government in Berlin proposed a 15% cut in the subsidies it provides.

Germany's environment minister, Norbert Roettgen, proposed on Wednesday a 15% reduction in feed-in tariffs for solar power, according to media reports. The cut will go into effect in April for roof installations and in July for open-field sites.
Europe's main stock markets mainly edged lower on Monday after recent volatility and following a surge for Asian equities on bargain-hunting, traders said.

The aviation sector was in focus with German airline Lufthansa cancelling two-thirds of its flights on Monday as its pilots began a four-day strike over pay and job security and threatened further walkouts.