Volkswagen slides on reports of U.S. fine

• The U.S. Justice Department is assessing how big a criminal fine it can extract from Volkswagen (VLKAY) over emissions-cheating without putting the German carmaker out of business, Bloomberg reports.
• The government is trying to reach a settlement by January, before a new U.S. administration comes into office and replaces the political appointees who have been overseeing the process.
• VW shares -4.6% in Frankfurt.