*17.6 mln shares sold at 40.10 euros each. *Sale worth 707 million euros. PARIS, April 26- The French government sold a 2.1 percent stake in Airbus parent EADS for 707 million euros, it said on Friday, marking one of the final steps in the overhaul of the ownership of the European aerospace and defence group.
PARIS, April 26- France raised 707 million euros from selling a 2.1 percent stake in European aerospace and defence group EADS, Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said on Friday. Combined with the sale of about 13 million EADS shares for 483 million euros last week through a share buyback, the government has raised a total of 1.19 billion euros, the minister said.
*Shares fall 2.4 percent after France says to sell 2.1 percent.
PARIS, April 26- The French government confirmed it is selling a 2.1 percent stake in Airbus parent EADS, representing 17.6 million shares. The government said in a statement that the placement was done via an accelerated book building and did not mention any price range.
PARIS, April 26- The French government is selling a 2.1 percent stake in Airbus parent EADS, traders said on Friday. The placement of the 17.6 million shares, for which UBS is the bookrunner, is being done at a price of 40.20 euros a share, traders said, which would represent about 707 million euros. No one at EADS was immediately available for comment.
The luxury and sports brand group missed first-quarter sales forecasts, particularly for its Gucci fashion label and Puma sports brand, hit by sluggish trading in Europe and slower growth in China.
By Terril Yue Jones and Julien Ponthus. BEIJING, April 25- China signed a deal with European planemaker Airbus on Thursday to purchase 60 planes, as French President Francois Hollande began a two-day visit to China.
PARIS, April 25- Europe's Airbus said an order for 60 aircraft announced by China earlier on Thursday included 18 A330 jets and 42 medium-haul A320-family aircraft. The deal, signed in Beijing during a visit to China by French President Francois Hollande, is worth at least $7.7 billion based on on list prices.
BEIJING, April 25- China on Thursday signed a deal with Airbus to purchase 60 planes, as French President Francois Hollande began a two-day visit to China. A large entourage of French businessmen is accompanying Hollande, who is the first leader of a major western country to visit China since President Xi Jinping was named to his post last month.
BERLIN, April 24- Germany is determined to keep its share of jobs in the research and development activities of Airbus parent EADS, Economy Minister Philipp Roesler said on Wednesday, reflecting the international tensions within the group.
WASHINGTON, April 24- Top Pentagon officials on Wednesday cited both progress and continuing risks on the $396 billion Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter program, and said Singapore had shown "tremendous interest" in the next-generation stealth fighter.
European shares closed lower on Wednesday on worries about slowing growth and rumors of a credit downgrade for Germany curbing investor sentiment.
European shares closed lower on Wednesday, shadowing losses on U.S. bourses after disappointing American data.
European shares extended gains in the afternoon session on Wednesday, helped by a successful bond auction in Italy and the U.S. Federal Reserve's defense of its asset purchases on Tuesday.
U.S. stock index futures edged higher Wednesday following the durable goods orders report and ahead of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's second round of testimony, but ongoing worries over political deadlock in Italy kept a lid on gains.