What the other papers say this morning
FINANCIAL TIMES
Microsoft in talks over Europe stores
Microsoft is exploring the possibility of extending its showcase stores strategy to Europe as it bolsters the number of devices and appliances on its software platforms.
Jenkins urged to axe Barclays unit
Some of Barclays’ biggest investors have urged Antony Jenkins, the bank’s new chief executive, to take an axe to its investment bank. At meetings with investors in recent weeks, at least three of the 30 biggest shareholders told Jenkins and other executives that the UK bank should consider following the example of Switzerland’s UBS.
Treasury to act on land sale gridlock
The Treasury is poised to seize control of the sale of public land owned by government departments after losing patience with the slow pace of their land disposal programme, the Financial Times has learned. George Osborne, the chancellor, is set to announce in the Autumn Statement, that all departments will be forced to cede control of their properties to a central body.
THE TIMES
Branson triumph after rail inquiry
Sir Richard Branson’s train company hopes to sign a one-year deal to run the most lucrative long-distance railway this week, as the government prepares to reveal the lessons it has learned from the West Coast Main Line fiasco.
Pot of tea turns tables on Taiwan
Waitrose has agreed to supply British-made favourites such as tea, marmalade and digestive biscuits to Taiwan’s biggest supermarket chain.
The Daily Telegraph
McLaren profits race ahead
McLaren Group, famed for its Formula One team, is having success off the track as well as on it, with diversification into such areas as healthcare technology paying off. Latest results filed at Companies House show McLaren’s pre-tax profit jumped to £19.7m last year from £12m in 2010.
US firm Apollo in talks for Goldsmiths
Jewellery retailers Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb could be about to change hands for up £180m.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
EUROPE
Baxter pursues $4bn bid for Gambro
Baxter International is in talks to buy Swedish medical-equipment maker Gambro for roughly $4bn, in a move that would boost the American company’s kidney-dialysis business.
Car Show Is Charged Up
Chevrolet and Fiat will unveil electric vehicles at the Los Angeles auto show this week, an effort to comply with California requirements that car makers sell vehicles with no tailpipe emissions.