Renault denies Troika talks on AvtoVAZ; Q3 sales up
(Reuters) - French carmaker Renault( RENA.PA ) on Wednesday denied it was in talks with Russia's Troika Dialog to buy its stake in Lada maker AvtoVAZ( AVAZ.MM ), in which it already owns a 25 percent stake. A Renault spokeswoman denied an earlier report that the group, with its Japanese alliance partner Nissan( 7201.T ), was in talks with Troika Dialog, which owns just over 20 percent of AvtoVAZ. The carmaker had earlier tweaked its forecasts for the global and European auto markets higher on Wednesday and set out a concrete free cash flow target after third-quarter sales rose. Carmakers are enjoying strong demand in markets including the BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China. Renault said strong international growth boosted its quarterly sales as it gained market share in 12 of its 15 major markets. Renault is not yet in China -- the world's largest auto market last year -- except through a handful of imported cars and the presence of alliance partner Nissan, b...