GERMANY'S MERCK TO BUY SIGMA-ALDRICH FOR $17 BILLION

German pharmaceutical company Merck said it would acquire U.S. firm Sigma-Aldrich for $17 billion, paying $140 a share in cash, to strengthen its position in the life science industry.

SIEMENS TO BUY DRESSER-RAND FOR $7.6 BILLION

German engineering company Siemens announced a deal to acquire U.S. oil-equipment maker Dresser-Rand Group for $7.6 billion.

EMC WEIGHS MERGER, OTHER OPTIONS

Data-storage giant EMC, under pressure from a shareholder activist and faced with the expected retirement of its longtime CEO, is said to be considering options that could include a merger deal with a rival.

TESCO SUSPENDS EXECUTIVES, PROBES ERROR

Tesco has issued its fourth profit warning in three years and said it is investigating why it overstated its most recent profit forecast by $408.8 million.

EUROPEAN STOCKS HIT BY CHINA FEARS

Concerns about slowing economic growth in China weighed on mining stocks and battered metals prices.

GOOGLE'S RECIPE FOR EU'S DIGITAL AGENDA

Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt is encouraging Europe to remove remaining national borders which complicate life for tech companies, cut red tape and embrace disruptive services.

ALIBABA BANKERS EXERCISE 'GREEN SHOE' OPTION

Bankers for Alibaba Group Holding maximized the size of the deal Friday, officially making it the biggest initial public offering ever, at $25 billion, according to people familiar with the sale.

RADIOSHACK, CREDITORS HAD TALKS WITH VENDOR

Cash-strapped RadioShack said it has talked with a major vendor about potential changes to its commercial arrangement that could benefit a financial restructuring of the electronics retailer. Shares rose 4% premarket.

AUTOZONE PROFIT EDGES HIGHER

AutoZone's fiscal 4Q profit inched up to $373.7 million, or $11.28 a share, while margins expanded, although sales fell on fewer sales days in the period. Revenue fell 1.5% to $3.05 billion. Earnings beat analysts' view, while the top line fell shy.

AIRBUS TO BEGIN FLIGHT TRIALS OF NEW A320NEO ENGINE OPTIONS

Airbus plans to begin flight trials of its new plane this week. The A320neo, which places more fuel efficient engines on the single-aisle plane, is the best selling program Airbus has ever launched.

LONDON MINING IN DISPUTE WITH GLENCORE

Sierra Leone iron ore producer London Mining said it has entered into a dispute with Glencore over a cash prepayment that the commodities trader has refused to pay.

TOTAL CUTS PRODUCTION OUTLOOK

French oil major Total has reduced its medium-term production forecast and said it was in talks with Chinese banks to help fund a major project in Russia.