Reuters

(Reuters) - Cisco Systems shares rose about 4% before the bell on Thursday after an upbeat fourth-quarter forecast signaled further stabilization in networking equipment demand and benefits from its $28 billion deal for cybersecurity firm Splunk.

The world's largest networking equipment maker had struggled with sluggish demand as customers adjusted piled up inventory from frenetic buying during the pandemic, as well as lingering supply-chain snags.

By Tom Little

CANNES (Reuters) - French director Judith Godreche praised the Cannes Film Festival for welcoming her and cast members of her movie about the #MeToo movement on the red carpet on Thursday, saying she hoped the film would help progress conversation on the matter.

"That the festival of Cannes authorized, allowed us this photo and this moment all together, that's beautiful," Godreche told journalists, adding: "It's a way, in... (continue reading...)

PORTOROZ, Slovenia (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is likely to cut interest rates in June but the bank is not in a hurry to ease policy, so subsequent moves could be spaced out to give time for assessment, ECB policymaker Martins Kazaks said on Thursday.

The ECB has all but promised a rate cut on June 6 so the discussion has shifted to how quickly its next move should come and what conditions must be met for more easing.

"I think... (continue reading...)

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's prime minister reiterated on Thursday his intention to thwart North Macedonia's bid to join the EU after its newly elected president referred to her country as "Macedonia", reigniting a dispute with Athens over the name.

Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova - who had the backing of a resurgent nationalist party in last week's vote - referred to the former name of Macedonia during her inauguration on Sunday, violating a U.N.-brokered... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson on Thursday said it would acquire privately held Proteologix for $850 million in cash, with potential for an additional milestone payment.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)