EU expected to clear News Corp's Sky bid

The European Commission is expected to clear News Corporation's planned £12bn buyout of BSkyB this week.

The Commission, which is studying potential competition issues, not plurality, is due to hand down its ruling by Wednesday. The decision is expected to be favourable for the Rupert Murdoch-led News Corp, which already owns The Times, The Sunday Times, the News of the World and The Sun through its News International unit.

In the UK, the Business Secretary Vince Cable has asked Ofcom to investigate the proposal's impact on media plurality. The watchdog is due to report back at the end of this month, at which point Mr Cable will have to decide whether or not to refer the matter to the UK's Competition Commission.