Ryanair was fined €256 million by Italy's competition authority for abusing its dominant market position by implementing strategies to hinder online travel agencies from selling its tickets, aiming to force sales through its own website, which the airline plans to appeal. The authority accused Ryanair of creating technical obstacles and restricting competition, while the airline argued that its direct sales model benefits consumers with lower fares. Despite the fine, Ryanair remains highly valuable and is planning a leadership transition.
UK shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Treasury are under investigation by the FCA for potential market abuse related to the Budget build-up, amid accusations of misleading the public about the country's finances and political spin affecting market stability.
Google has made a final attempt to overturn a €2.42 billion ($2.6 billion) EU antitrust fine at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), arguing that regulators failed to prove its practices were anti-competitive. The fine was imposed in 2017 for market abuse related to Google's shopping service. Google's lawyer argued that different treatment of rivals is not inherently anti-competitive and that companies compete by differentiating themselves. The CJEU will make a ruling in the coming months. This case is one of three penalties totaling €8.25 billion that Google has faced in the last decade.
