Vedomosti quoted unnamed Russian officials as saying they saw no immediate value in any of the investments in Cyprus, but that they were continuing the talks.

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"We believe there was a compelling business rationale for combining VNU and IMS that would have resulted in a stronger company and increased shareholder value over the longer term, " he was quoted by The Associated Press as saying.

FORBES: VNU Scraps $6.8B IMS Deal, Van Den Bergh To Quit

"The longer the process takes, the more more good people will leave, " analysts at Rabo Securities were quoted by AFX News as saying, adding that 'the value of the standalone ABN Amro franchise is deteriorating due to this.

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"I am very sorry because an artwork of huge value was stolen, " news agency Agence France-Presse quoted Papoutsis as saying.

CNN: Picasso, Mondrian works stolen in Athens art heist