Markets

ECB leaves rates at record low as Europe struggles
The European Central Bank has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low of 0.75 percent even though the economy in the euro area ...
Italy's borrowing costs drop sharply in debt sale
Financial markets appear to be shrugging off worries over a bitter election campaign in Italy, with the government paying the lowest rate in three ...
ECB expected to leave rates at record low
Europe's stalled economy won't get more help Thursday from the European Central Bank, which is expected to hold off cutting interest rates as it waits ...
Portugal's government defends deeper austerity
Portugal's government is trying to defuse tension over its plan to cut state spending by €4 billion ($5.2 billion) over the next two years after a ...
France affirms nuclear arms despite military cuts
France's president says the country will maintain its costly nuclear arsenal despite looming military budget cuts, saying the weapons are essential ...
Polish central bank cuts rates as economy slows
Poland's central bank has lowered interest rates for the third time in as many months, a widely expected move meant to give a boost to a slowing ...
Government to sell ?500 mln Bank of Ireland bonds
The Irish government says it is selling at least half of its bonds in Bank of Ireland, the only Irish bank to avoid nationalization after the ...
Asia stocks rise as Alcoa sees stronger demand
Asian stock markets rose Wednesday after the fourth-quarter earnings season got off to a positive start in the U.S. with aluminum giant Alcoa ...
Investigation into claim French minister hid funds
The Paris prosecutors office says it is opening a preliminary investigation into allegations that France's budget minister hid money from French tax ...
Greece raises 2.6 billion euros in T-bill sale
Greece has raised €2.6 billion ($3.4 billion) in the auction of one- and six-month Treasury bills, at slightly lower interest rates compared with ...
Global regulators agree on bank asset rules
International banking regulators agreed Sunday on global rules meant to ensure banks keep enough cash in hand to survive future market crises, and ...
Oil finishes higher on EIA supply report
The price of oil finished higher Friday after the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported a much bigger drop in the nation's ...
Japan's Nikkei soars on 1st trade day of the year
Japan's benchmark stock index soared on its first trading day of the new year Friday, as investors reacted to a weakening yen and Washington's ...
Swiss bank to pay $57.8M in US tax evasion plea
Switzerland's oldest bank became the first foreign bank to plead guilty in the United States to tax charges when it admitted Thursday that it helped ...
Macedonian MPs to lose pay over Parliament boycott
Macedonia is cutting the salaries of opposition lawmakers who have boycotted parliamentary sessions for a week following a stormy state budget debate.
Asian stocks rise on momentum from US budget deal
Asian stock markets rose again Thursday on a second day of momentum from Washington's agreement preventing the U.S. from going off the so-called ...
Oil price jumps as US averts 'fiscal cliff'
The price of oil jumped Wednesday on the first trading day of the new year, after a deal in Washington averted the dreaded "fiscal cliff." The House ...
Cyprus president: no privatization in bailout deal
Cyprus' president said Wednesday he would refuse any request by international lenders to sell off state-owned companies as part of a finalized ...
Portugal's highest court to asses state budget
Bailed-out Portugal's president has asked the country's Constitutional Court to check whether new austerity measures included in this year's state ...
Markets calm despite looming fiscal cliff
Markets appeared Monday to take in stride the ongoing failure of U.S. politicians to agree to a budget deal in time to avoid automatic tax increases ...
Oil steady as 'fiscal cliff' deadline approaches
Oil prices were little changed Monday as a U.S. budget deadline neared with rival politicians still at odd over key issues. Benchmark oil for February ...
Macedonian protesters demand budget cuts
Several thousand supporters of the leftist opposition, led by Social Democrat leader and former Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, have staged ...
Stocks lower ahead of US 'fiscal cliff' talks
European and U.S. shares traded lower on Friday on waning hopes that U.S. President Barack Obama and key lawmakers would manage to reach an 11th-hour ...
Oil rises slightly ahead of US fiscal-cliff talks
The price of crude edged up toward $91 a barrel on Friday, ahead of another effort in Washington to strike a budget deal before the year-end deadline.
Asian stocks up ahead of US 'fiscal cliff' talks
Asian stock markets rose Friday, hours before President Barack Obama and key lawmakers were to meet at the White House to try to hammer out an ...