The Belgian market regulator has halted trading of shares in Franco-Belgian bank Dexia as speculation mounts over the sale of its Luxembourg unit, the BBC reports.
Dexia shares fell 17.3% yesterday before trading was suspended. Dexia has confirmed it is in "exclusive negotiations" with a group of international investors to sell the bank's Dexia Banque Internationale a Luxembourg (BIL). It has been reported that Qatar is a frontrunner for the sale, for a purchase price of €900m (£785m). The Luxembourg government is also in talks to buy a minority stake. Finance minister Luc Frieden said he expects discussions to be completed at the end of the month. Dexia could be the first European bank to fall victim to the eurozone debt crisis, as a deci...
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