The Swedish government will likely end its state rail monopoly on all passenger traffic by October 2010. Currently operated by SJ, the government is making the move to open up the sector to more competition. Read the full story

Despite its admitted financial difficulties, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has approached the Estonian government with an offer to buy out the 34 percent stake it owns in Estonian Airlines. SAS already owns 49 percent of Estonian Airlines. Read the full story

The Swedish government took another significant step forward in its privatisation programme by selling its property group, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal. It brings to a total of SEK 116 billion the amount that has been raised from such sales to help reduce state debt and implement welfare programmes.

In all they intend to raise SEK 200 billion (USD 33.4 billion), and the SEK 41.1 billion raised from pension fund buyer AP Fastigheter takes them over the half way mark.

The government of Fredrik Reinfeldt intends to put six state-owned companies up for sale, as promised before the election, to divest the government’s role in the private sector. So far it has sold V&S, maker of Absolut vodka, part of TeliaSonera, and a small portion of OMX, the stock market operator.

A further 37.3 percent stake in TeliaSonera telecommunication is expected to go on sale soon, and the government hopes to hold out for a better price, having achieved half their income targets from other sales.

Other shares it hopes to get rid of include a 19.9 percent stake in Nordea – the Nordic region’s largest bank, and 100 percent of SBAB, a Swedish mortgage lender.