Market highlights

1 Mosaic, the world's top producer of concentrated phosphate, has entered talks to buy Vale's fertiliser unit. The value of Vale's fertiliser assets could reach US$3 billion (S$4.05 billion).


2 Volkswagen (VW) group sales swung back to growth in May for the first time in four months. Volkswagen group sales rose 1.6 per cent to 871,500 passenger cars, commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.


3 Apple violated design patents owned by a Chinese device maker and may have to halt sales of its latest iPhones in Beijing, the city's intellectual property authority ruled, handing the United States company its latest setback.


4 Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said he is enthusiastic about the US$26.2 billion (S$35.4 billion) acquisition of LinkedIn, viewing it as an opportunity to build a business network for the working world.


5 Tesco agreed to sell its Dobbies Garden Centres chain for £217 million (S$417 million) as the United Kingdom's biggest retailer continues to sell peripheral assets to focus on reviving its main supermarket business.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 18, 2016, with the headline Market highlights. Subscribe