Economy

Economy

• Oil rises near $99 a barrel before Bernanke speaks

  The price of oil rose Wednesday, before the conclusion of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting. Benchmark oil for July delivery rose 48 cents to $98.92 per ... 

• IMF calls for urgent steps on Spain unemployment

  The International Monetary Fund says recession-wracked Spain is making progress but is urging policymakers both within the country and in Europe to ... 

• Currency factors weigh on retailer H&M's Q2 profit

  Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB on Wednesday said profits fell by 11 percent in the second quarter due to the strong Swedish krona and ... 

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  Asia Markets mostly down as investors eye Fed

  Asian markets opened mostly lower Wednesday as investors waited for an update on the U.S. economy from the Federal Reserve and for some clarity from ... 

• Jamaica eyes expatriates as source of investment

  In a bid to kick start Jamaica's chronically stagnant economy, the Caribbean country is wooing its citizens living abroad to invest in the island of ... 

• Austrian construction company says it's insolvent

  Alpine Bau GmbH, one of Austria's biggest construction companies, says it is insolvent. In making the announcement Tuesday, the company said it is ... 

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  The ins and outs of G-8 summit promises

  Group of Eight summit participants are powerful people: the leaders of the U.S., Russia, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan, plus top ... 

• European car sales hit 20-year low for May

  European car sales had their worst May in 20 years as the region's recession drags on, the European automakers' association said Tuesday. 

• Kabel Deutschland shares rise on takeover interest

  Shares in Germany's biggest cable operator are up after Kabel Deutschland received a preliminary takeover proposal from U.S. firm Liberty Global. 

• Spain bad loan ratio edges toward 11 pct

  The proportion of bad loans on Spanish banks' books has edged up to 10. 8 percent while the Treasury had to pay higher interest rates to raise 5 ... 

• German investor confidence rises to 3-month high

  Germany's ZEW survey of investor optimism rose to a three-month high in June, beating expectations. The research institute's closely watched index ... 

• UK inflation climbs to 2.7 percent

  The Office of National Statistics says surging air fares contributed to a rise in inflation in the UK last month. The UK's statistics service said ... 

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  Ukraine kids at risk from low vaccination rates

  When the time came to vaccinate her 4-year-old daughter, Yelena Hlushko hesitated, spooked by widespread fears in Ukraine about vaccines and by a boil ... 

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  Putin: US-Russia positions on Syria don't coincide

  Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Barack Obama on Monday that their positions on Syria do not "coincide" but the two leaders said during ... 

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  WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: Obama, Putin nearby at G-8

  If President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin want some extra quality time together at the Group of 8 meeting, they don't have to go ... 

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  Sweeping US-EU trade talks to start in July

  A top European Union official says talks on a sweeping new free trade agreement between the EU and the US will begin next month. Jose Manuel Barroso, ... 

• Obama: US will host first talks on EU trade deal

  President Barack Obama says the U.S. will host the first round of negotiations toward a broad trade deal with the European Union next month in ... 

• Portuguese teachers strike over austerity plans

  Thousands of Portuguese students have missed mandatory end-of-year exams because of a 24-hour strike by teachers opposing government plans to extend ... 

• EU official: Trade deal with US a 'game-changer'

  The top official with the European Union's executive arm says a free trade deal with the United States would be a "game-changer" for the global ... 

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  Little joy in Croatia as it enters the EU

  There will be festivities and fireworks, but Kata Secic can't muster much enthusiasm for Croatia's historic entry into the European Union. 

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  Obama takes economic, foreign policy agenda to UK

  President Barack Obama is taking a security, foreign policy and economic agenda to Northern Ireland for a meeting with heads of the leading industrial ... 

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  G-8 leaders to mull Syria, tax evasion, free trade

  Police are expected to outnumber protesters Monday at the G-8 summit in Northern Ireland, where leaders will seek to narrow their differences on ...