Monday Papers: China investors line up for AIA stakes - tips, comment and bids

Financial Times

* China Investment Corp and Ping An are among the big institutional investors from the mainland who are pursuing substantial stakes in AIA in this month’s share sale of up to $20 billion.

* Appetite for mergers and acquisitions is reducing due to a sharp deterioration in confidence amid fears of the uncertain macroeconomic outlook, according to Ernst & Young’s third bi-annual capital confidence barometer.

The Lex Column

* The Plaza next time - Current thinking over currencies.

* Vimpelcom - Is Naguib Sawiris’ telecom empire too big to sell?

* Municipal bond mess - The last time munis caused big trouble was in the Great Depression.

* Enel Green Power - Renewable energy stocks are a tough sell.

Editorial

* Nicolas Sarkozy faces the biggest test of his presidency as his proposed reform to France’s debt-ridden pay-as-you-go pension system hits the final stretch this week.

* UK lets the axe fall (spending review).

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