Royal Dutch Shell PLC's (RDSB) regulatory issues in the U.S. Arctic, where it has incurred delays to its oil exploration campaign, is putting off other energy groups with licenses, reports The Financial Times, citing one of the most active groups in the region.

German engineering and chemicals group Linde AG (LIN.XE) is planning a benchmark-size, euro-denominated, eight-year bond, one of the banks running the deal said Wednesday.

British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC, or BSkyB, (BSY.LN) Wednesday said it purchased 320,000 ordinary shares, for cancellation, on Sept. 4.

European stock markets inched higher in early trade on Wednesday, a day ahead of a much anticipated policy meeting in the European Central Bank, while BP PLC added pressure.

AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN) Wednesday said it purchased, for cancellation, 300,000 ordinary shares at a price of 2913 pence per share on Sept. 4.

Russia's Energy Ministry warned in March of a risk that Europe's antitrust authorities would open an investigation into OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) over its pricing of natural-gas exports, Vedomosti reports Wednesday, citing a government document.

France's Schneider Electric SA (SU.FR) said Wednesday it sold its 0.45% stake in insurance company AXA SA (CS.FR) for 120 million euros ($151 million) after both companies decided not to renew a shareholders' agreement that ended May 15.

State Bank of India (500112.BY) said Wednesday it will reduce interest rates on most retail term deposits, effective Friday.

The French government will sponsor a bill raising retail prices of electricity and gas for heavy consumers for approval in Parliament in October, newspaper Les Echos reports Wednesday.