European regulators set Oracle deadline

European antitrust regulators have set a new deadline for deciding whether they will block Oracle's hostile bid for PeopleSoft. The European Commission, which last month suspended its review of the deal while awaiting new information from Oracle, on Friday set a provisional deadline of May 11.

The staff of the U.S. Department of Justice, meanwhile, has recommended that the deal be blocked on antitrust grounds. A final decision is expected by March 2.