GE's Formal Offer for Alstom a Win With Board, Less So With French Government

GE's $17 billion bid for Alstom's energy business win's over the French company's board, but Alstom leaves door open for counter offer from Germany's Siemens, and keeps a wary eye on the politicians. Alstom's share rises, but market dragged down by BNP-Paribas, which could face criminal proceedings in the U.S. for sanctions busting. Royal Dutch Shell rises on better than expected results and Rolls-Royce on talks of a $1.7 billion sale of assets. Eurozone inflation disappoints.