Lower gas prices and refining margins hit profits at Spanish energy giant Repsol in the third quarter. COO Miguel Martinez spoke to CNBC about the earnings Thursday.

The world might be starting to see signs of a recovery but for the world's top container shipping company, Moller Maersk, the future remains highly uncertain. CEO Nils Smedegaard Andersen spoke to CNBC about the outlook.

Shares of British Airways and Iberia took off Thursday on speculation the two carriers were on the verge of a merger deal. David Jones from IG Index and Paul Mielgo from Intereconomia consider the outlook.

"I think that recovery is coming back," Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, told CNBC Thursday when discussing the outlook for the US economy. "Even so, the crisis is not over," he added.

The US is likely to have to borrow substantially less than initially anticipated as banks are repaying the government funds they received during the crisis with interest and significant repayments are ahead, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told CNBC Thursday.

Aegon's third-quarter earnings topped analysts' expectations Thursday. The Dutch insurer also saw improved sales and net inflows. "We are very pleased that we returned to profit this quarter," CFO Jan Nooitgedagt said.

German chemicals group Lanxess posted a better-than-expected 59% drop in third-quarter net profit Thursday. "Despite the challenging situation out there, we produced a strong set of figures," CEO Axel Heitmann told CNBC.

BT upped its full-year revenue and dividend forecast Thursday as cost cutting help the UK telecom group beat core earnings expectations for its second quarter. "Our customers like us, we've got to carry on delivering financially," CEO Ian Livingston told CNBC.