Frankfurt / AFP European banks are lending more to consumers and businesses but not enough to boost economic growth, analysts said on Wednesday based on new figures from the European Central Bank. Loans from eurozone banks to households and companies grew 1.1 percent in June, the same pace as in April and May, the European Central Bank said on …

  Bloomberg GlaxoSmithKline Plc, the U.K.’s biggest drugmaker, reported second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates and raised its forecast for the year as sales of new products doubled. Profit excluding certain costs surged 42 percent to 24.5 pence from a year earlier, the London-based company said in a statement on Wednesday. That topped the 21-pence average of analyst estimates compiled …

  Nicosia / AFP ExxonMobil, ENI and Total are among eight energy giants bidding to drill for undersea oil and gas off the southern coast of Cyprus, officials said Wednesday. Companies from Europe, the US, Qatar and Israel are bidding for three new drilling licenses, Cypriot Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis told reporters. “The government is especially satisfied with the quality …