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Below are company-related news and stories from French and Benelux media which could have an impact on the region's markets or individual stocks.

U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday after Pfizer and BioNTech said a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was shown to have a neutralizing effect against the new Omicron coronavirus variant in a laboratory test.

Apple could pay an even bigger price for its secret deal in China. Chief Executive Tim Cook signed an undisclosed agreement in 2016 promising Beijing $275 billion of investment in the country over five years in exchange for relaxing pressure on its business, according to a report published on Tuesday. He may have had little choice, but it muddles the return calculus.

Gold prices were little changed on Wednesday, with a subdued dollar offsetting firmer U.S. Treasury yields, as investors squared positions in the run-up to U.S. consumer prices data this week.

Gold prices moved in a narrow range on Wednesday, anchored by a retreat in the dollar as investors squared positions in the run-up to U.S. consumer prices data later in the week.

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Asia's front-month crack for 0.5% very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) slipped on Wednesday, but traders said steady bunkering demand and limited arbitrage arrivals from the West would support the market in the near term.

Wall Street's main indexes finished Tuesday's session with strong gains as investors shook off some anxiety about the latest coronavirus variant and investors boosted Nasdaq by piling into technology stocks.

Brazil's real rose on Wednesday ahead of a widely anticipated interest rate hike by the central bank, while easing fears about the spread of the Omicron variant supported sentiment broadly in emerging markets.

Copper prices ran out of steam on Wednesday after two days of gains as concern over the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant blunted the effect of economic stimulus in top consumer China.