More than 700 Swedish companies went bankrupt in September, with real estate companies among the hardest hit, according to data from credit reference agency Creditsafe, Bloomberg News reported. The 17% increase from last year is a sharp turn for the worse, following a 3% annual decrease in August. Property owners had another rough month, as bankruptcies in the sector more than doubled. While hopes have increased about an economic recovery in Sweden as the central bank has reduced borrowing costs, an uptick in sentiment has yet to translate into rising activity.

Cinema chain operator Cineworld's restructuring plan was approved by London's High Court on Monday, despite opposition from two landlords, Reuters reported. Cineworld, whose brands include Regal, Cinema City, Picturehouse and Planet, set out a plan in July to restore to profitability, including addressing its lease portfolio and rental terms with landlords in Britain. Like other operators, Cineworld, which operates in 10 countries with 9,189 screens, was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, when many movie releases were postponed or went directly to streaming platforms.

BlackRock Inc. is set to become the largest shareholder in SellerX as part of a deal to slash the former unicorn’s debt load, Bloomberg News reported. BlackRock, an existing lender to the Berlin-based firm, will take a stake in the business as part of a debt-for-equity swap and refinancing, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private information. Existing equity investors will retain a share of the business, they added.

The European Central Bank is more confident that inflation is going to settle at its target after a series of recent data releases, and will take that into account when it next sets policy, President Christine Lagarde said Monday, WSJ Pro Central Banking reported. Figures released on Friday and earlier Monday by the eurozone’s largest economies all point to a big decline in the inflation rate during September. Economists expect figures for the eurozone as a whole that will be released Tuesday to record the first drop below the ECB’s 2% target since mid-2021.

Vehicle production is a tough undertaking that requires numerous businesses to work towards a common goal, Car and Driver reported. Ineos recently proved just how tough a task that is by pausing production of the Grenadier SUV and Quartermaster pickup truck. A new report from Automotive News Europe suggests that the production pause may be due to Recaro's recent bankruptcy. The famous German sports seat supplier filed for insolvency in July, four years after being purchased by a U.S.-based private investment company.

Thai retail and property conglomerate Central Group said on Monday it will take over the operational business of Magazine zum Globus AG, which operates luxury department stores in Switzerland, Reuters reported. Globus is another piece of the fallen empire of Austrian property tycoon Rene Benko, whose sprawling Signa group folded late last year, sending shockwaves through a European property sector already beset with problems.

German inflation declined further below the European Central Bank’s 2% target in September, further raising the chance of a consecutive interest-rate cut at the bank’s next meeting in October, the Wall Street Journal reported. Consumer prices were 1.6% higher than in September last year, down from 1.9% in August, German statistics office Destatis said Monday. The German data comes after inflation cooled more rapidly than expected in France and Spain, potentially increasing the pressure on policymakers to vote for an ECB rate cut on Oct.

European carmaker Stellantis on Monday joined bigger rival Volkswagen and others in warning about the worsening outlook for auto demand and rising costs, wiping billions of euros off the sector's market value, Reuters reported. The companies are struggling with weak demand in China and the United States and a potential trade war between Beijing and the European Union as the EU prepares to finalise import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, imposed over alleged subsidies.