The European Commission proposed Wednesday what an EU source said was an urgently needed anti-dumping levy on imports of Chinese solar panels, allegedly unfairly subsidised by a government that has retaliated in kind to similar moves. The Commission, the EU's executive arm, is now canvassing member states to see if they agree with a provisional heavy tariff of 47 percent, the source said. "The consultation process has been launched," the source said, adding that the Commission wanted to announce a decision on June 5 to help struggling European manufacturers.

By Lisa Richwine (Reuters) - Netflix Inc impressed investors with solid subscriber growth and better-than-expected profits in the first quarter, sending shares of the video subscription service soaring 24 percent higher in after-hours trade. A big push into original shows, a strategy aimed at hooking new customers with content they can't get anywhere else, seems to be working, with its February release of the series "House of Cards", a drama starring Kevin Spacey, generating plenty of buzz.

Netflix shares jumped 24 percent in after-hours trades Monday on earnings figures that indicated original programs and other tactics are luring viewers to the streaming Internet video service. The Northern California-based company said that revenue climbed to $1.02 billion as it added 2.03 million new subscribers in the first three months of this year. Profit for the quarter was reported as $3 million as compared to a loss of $5 million posted in the same quarter a year earlier.

By Philip Blenkinsop DUBLIN (Reuters) - A growing number of EU countries do not want the European Commission to launch an investigation into Chinese telecoms equipment makers Huawei and ZTE, Sweden said on Thursday. The European Commission, the EU's executive body, has been collecting evidence to prepare a possible case against the two companies over alleged state subsidies that would allow them to undercut European competitors.