Luxury group Kering struck a bullish note for this year despite rising inflation after a strong comeback by its star brand Gucci in late 2021, and said it could make an acquisition soon to boost its portfolio of labels.

Standard Chartered has raised its core profitability goals and promised shareholders extra payouts, despite full year profit undershooting expectations, as it banks on inflation-battling rate hikes worldwide to boost lending.

PARIS (Reuters) -Air France-KLM plans to raise up to 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion) as it seeks to repay state pandemic handouts, the airline said on Thursday, overshadowing robust earnings on a recovery in air travel and sending its shares down more than 4%.

Continental is considering splitting into four separate businesses to boost its market capitalisation but must convince majority shareholder Schaeffler of the plan, Manager Magazin reported, sending Continental shares up 3.5%.

EasyJet would want more slots at Milan's Linate airport should carrier ITA team up with Germany's Lufthansa, the chief executive of the British carrier said, indicating the airline's commitment to Italy.

PARIS (Reuters) -Air France-KLM beat core profit expectations for 2021 due to a recovery in transatlantic travel in the fourth quarter and said it had started to see a pickup in bookings this quarter as Omicron restrictions start to ease in Europe.