As the mid-year earnings season accelerates, here are four tailwinds driving European profit growth past the US.

The launch of a new battery for homes that can store solar power for use in the evenings is “another nail in the coffin of conventional utilities”, it has been claimed.

Ukraine’s prime minister has told leaders in the east of the country he is committed to allowing regions to have more powers.

Britain could face at least 12 gigawatts (GW) of power plant capacity going offline by the end of 2023 due to tighter European Union pollution regulation, Reuters calculations based on government data showed yesterday.

Energy giant RWE npower heaped more pressure on British households today by hiking electricity and gas prices by 9.3% and 11.1% respectively from December 1.

Electricity generation from renewable energy in Germany is reducing power prices and has left the country with a market whose design no longer works, according to Stadtwerke Leipzig.

European stocks rebounded from the biggest drop in a month yesterday amid concern recent losses are overdone, considering the outlook for company earnings.

Two more major energy suppliers in the UK plan big increases in the price of gas and electricity over the new two weeks, it was reported today.

GERMAN energy giant RWE filed a legal challenge yesterday to the government’s order to shut down temporarily the country’s seven oldest nuclear reactors in light of the Fukushima crisis in Japan.

Berlin: Germany’s probe into possible tax evasion linked to trading of emissions allowances has led to law enforcement action in at least nine other European countries, including an arrest in Britain.

Cadbury chairman Roger Carr today said he would step down after shareholders approved US food giant Kraft’s £11.4bn (€13bn) takeove

Russia and Ukraine announced a deal today to end the bitter dispute that has blocked Russian natural gas from Europe for nearly two weeks.

The auction of nuclear power firm British Energy suffered a blow today after it emerged one of the potential suitors had pulled out of the running.

Nuclear power firm British Energy today dismissed a series of takeover approaches as not “representing shareholder value”.

French industrial group Suez confirmed today it was no longer involved in talks over a possible bid for UK nuclear power provider British Energy.

The London market ended the week on a high today as stocks soared on the back of some good economic news from the US.

German utility E.ON today signalled it could join the race for up-for-sale nuclear power group British Energy.

Takeover speculation and a quarter point cut in interest rates failed to lift the FTSE 100 Index out of the red today.

Fresh bid talk over British Energy failed to keep the London market out of the red today ahead of interest rate decisions from central banks.

Nuclear power station operator British Energy was today said to be weighing up an £11bn (€13.7bn) takeover approach from German utility business RWE.

The London market overcame fresh worries about the state of the US economy to close near the 6,000 barrier today.

The market rally following efforts by central banks to tackle the credit crunch proved short-lived today as the FTSE 100 Index fell 2%.

Energy provider npower’s profits soared by 41% to €724m last year, its parent company said today.

THE Irish stock exchange clawed back some of its losses this year with a 3.75% rise yesterday as markets across Europe reacted positively to the US Federal Reserve’s shock cut in interest rates.

Millions of households are bracing themselves for price hikes of 17.2% for gas and 12.7% for electricity which come into effect today.

Financial and mining stocks led a rally for London’s leading shares as takeover speculation continued to buoy the market.

The London market suffered losses of near to 1% today after a poor finish on Wall Street took its toll.

GERMAN stocks declined after a report showed US consumer prices rose more than forecast. RWE and ThyssenKrupp paced the retreat.

Yorkshire Water owner Kelda posted a 10.6% rise in profits today after an inflation-busting increase in household water bills.

Anglian Water owner AWG found itself back in the spotlight today as speculation mounted that it could be on the brink of a bid battle.

German prosecutors are examining recordings of railway radio communications today, following the horrific high-speed train crash that killed 23 people.

The London market sank into the red today after the United Nations said Iran had failed to suspend its nuclear fuel programme before the deadline.

Shares in London drifted into the red today as investors banked profits in drinks giant Diageo despite a strong set of results.

The London market tumbled into the red today as shares in drinks company Diageo lost more than 3% in value despite a solid set of results.

Plans for a “clean coal” power plant in England are being looked at by npower, it was announced today.

GERMAN energy giant RWE yesterday took its first step into the Irish electricity market when it signed contracts for gas supply and plant operation at the proposed independent power station at Tynagh, Co Galway.

Share price were higher midday, in line with the strong late showing on Wall Street on Friday, with Munich Re supported by a broker upgrade, while Bayer was lifted by reports that GlaxoSmithKline is eyeing its pharma division, dealers said.

Repsol YPF SA will join forces with RWE AG and Woodside Petroleum Ltd to develop a gas and oil exploration project on the Canary Islands, Expansion reported, citing unnamed Repsol YPF sources.

A British company angling to take over management of water supplies for 500,000 West Virginia residents in the United States today denied reports it was the United Kingdom’s worst polluter for two years.

The Footsie index of 100 leading stocks is up 33 points by mid-morning at 4696.4, and looking set to close above the 4700 mark for the first time for four days.