Business News

ABU DHABI, May 21 (Reuters) - Dubai contractor Drake & Scull, which has shifted its focus abroad after a slowdown inthe United Arab Emirates' property sector, is close to winning a$300 million contract in Iraq, the firm's chief executive saidon Monday.

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares took a breather from last week's sell-off and the single currency steadied on Monday, but investors were wary after a weekend meeting of Group of Eight leaders failed to ease concerns about the risk of Greece exiting the euro.

High-end London-based jeweller Graff Diamonds on Monday launched the roadshow for its reported $1.0 billion initial public offering in Hong Kong, one of the biggest this year.

DUBAI (Reuters) - United Nations nuclear chief Yukiya Amano started talks with senior Iranian officials on Monday, Iranian media reported, on his one-day visit to Tehran that diplomats say could lead to an agreement for further inspections of Iranian nuclear sites.

DUBAI, May 21 (Reuters) - United Nations nuclear chiefYukiya Amano started talks with senior Iranian officials onMonday, Iranian media reported, on his one-day visit to Tehranthat diplomats say could lead to an agreement for furtherinspections of Iranian nuclear sites.

0728 GMT - Dubai's index moves higher, reclaimingSunday's losses, but traders doubt stocks can make a sustainedrebound without global sentiment improving.

(Reuters) - DaVita Inc , the biggest U.S. operator of dialysis clinics, said it agreed to acquire HealthCare Partners for about $4.42 billion in a cash and stock deal.

* G8 leaders pledge to keep Greece in euro zone

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The chief executives of Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd come face to face on Monday in court-directed mediation in the United States over a dispute in which the iPhone maker claims the Korean firm has "slavishly" copied some of its products.

* To pay $350 mln and assume $110 mln debt

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair on Monday posted record annual profit on higher passenger numbers and ticket prices but warned that recession in Europe would weaken future earnings.

LONDON (Reuters) - To East Africa's assets of spectacular wildlife, abundant land and shimmering beaches you can now add gas - so much gas it could transform global energy flows along with some of the world's poorest countries.

SHANGHAI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chinese Internet entrepreneur Jack Ma is buying back up to half of a 40 percent stake in his Alibaba Group from Yahoo Inc for $7.1 billion, in a deal that moves the Chinese e-commerce leader closer to a public listing.

* China's premier calls for more efforts to support growth

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will unveil a government dominated by loyalists on Monday, leaving Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev limited scope to pursue his reform agenda and entrenching the Kremlin's grip over the economy's commanding heights.

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese Internet firm Alibaba Group is in talks with existing shareholders, including Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings, to raise about $2.3 billion in equity to partly finance its deal with Yahoo Inc., two sources said.

0605 GMT - The immediate outlook for Gulf Arab stockscontinues to be subdued, despite small rebounds in Asian sharesand oil prices on Monday, as the euro zone crisis remainscentre-stage in investors' minds.

FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - The head of General Motors unit Opel will face workers' concerns on Monday over reported plans to shut one of its four German plants as the automaker pulls production of the Astra, its best-selling model, from the country.