India disappoints with 5.5 percent growth

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's economy grew a disappointing 5.5 percent in the last quarter ending June, marking a sharp slowdown from the 8 percent growth in the same period a year ago.

Markets will wait for ECB silver bullet, but not for long

(Reuters) - Investors have put their faith in the European Central Bank's ability to get on top of the euro zone debt crisis and even if detailed plans take longer to materialize than expected, the momentum in financial markets may prevent an immediate meltdown.

Greece plans 'special economic zones' to boost growth

ATHENS: Greece plans to set up "special economic zones" to attract private investment and help lift its debt-laden economy out of depression, the government said on Tuesday.

China announces £800bn stimulus to boost confidence

China has announced a total of 8 trillion yuan (£800bn) of "stimulus projects" to try to boost confidence in an economy that appears to be cooling faster than expected.

Hollande approval rating slips to 54 percent: Ifop poll

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande's approval rating fell to 54 percent in August, continuing a steady decline since he came to office, according to a poll released on Saturday.

Israel's slowing economy may pose trouble for Netanyahu

JERUSALEM — Israel's once-envied economy, which dodged the recent credit crunch and grew even amid the international recession, is heading toward choppier waters.

German Economy Confirmed to Have Grown Slightly in Q2

German economic growth in the second quarter was confirmed at 0.3% (seasonally adjusted), confirming an initial estimate released last week.

China concerns mount as 'awful' data see manufacturing fall to nine-month low

China's factory activity in August contracted at its fastest pace in nine months, in a sign that a persistent slowdown in economic growth extended deeper into the third quarter.

Recession in US likely without budget accord: Analysts

WASHINGTON: A new recession is likely if a stalemate over tax and spending cuts continues between Democrats and Republicans, according to fresh, dire projections by the nonpartisan US Congressional Budget Office.

Grexit debate stirs in Germany ahead of Greek PM visit

(Reuters) - Greece will not leave the euro zone unless the country "totally refuses" to fulfill any of its reform targets, the head of the Eurogroup said on Saturday, as Germany insisted the crisis-stricken country must stick to the agreed reforms.

China's Hu gives show of support for North Korea

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's President Hu Jintao on Friday met the powerful uncle of North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un, in a clear show of support for the impoverished ally as it takes tentative steps to rebuild its shattered economy.

India PM says economic growth issue of national security

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Politicians should treat India's economic growth as a national security issue, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday, warning a lack of consensus is holding back Asia's third-largest economy as it tries to drag millions from poverty.

Eurozone shuttle diplomacy to pick up pace before critical month

ATHENS/MADRID: After a brief summer lull, euro zone leaders are gearing up for a round of shuttle diplomacy in the run-up to what could be a crucial month in the 2-1/2-year debt crisis.

China moves cautiously in face of worsening slump

BEIJING (AP) — Summer should be the busy season for Shen Lin's musical instrument workshop in the southwestern city of Kunming.

French economy shows zero growth in Q2: INSEE

PARIS: The French economy managed zero growth in the second quarter of 2012, data showed Tuesday, beating expectations it would begin a slide into recession.

US fiscal cliff another Y2K, claim UBS analysts

America's impending "fiscal cliff" is nothing more than another "Y2K" and whoever wins the Presidential election later this year will be forced into averting financial crisis, according to analysts.

Greece Plans Large Debt Auction Tuesday

Greece, starved of financing options, will step up its treasury bill issuance on Tuesday, offering an unusually large amount so it can meet looming redemptions on Aug. 20 and fund its cash needs until it secures further aid from its international creditors.

China's July export figures add to slowdown fears

Fears of a renewed global recession grew on Friday after faltering demand from the US and Europe was blamed for weaker than expected Chinese exports.

Fitch says Spanish banking bailout may not suffice

MADRID: Fitch Ratings warned Friday that it has doubts about whether Spain's banking rescue of up to 100 billion euros ($123 billion) will be enough to clear up the mess for good.

UK trade deficit at 15-year high

The UK's trade gap widened sharply in June, to its worst level since comparable records began in 1997.

Euro architect Otmar Issing: Some members could leave

Some members of the eurozone may have to leave the bloc as the debt crisis continues, according to one of the architects of the euro.

Global Economy: No rabbits hidden in China's hat this time

LONDON (Reuters) - Investors will be looking to a data deluge from China this week to give the global economy a further lift after Friday's strong U.S. jobs report. They risk being disappointed.

Global fears shackle India's outsourcing job-hoppers

The normally high employee turnover rate in India's job-hopping outsourcing sector has fallen sharply as a weak global economy hits the flagship industry, a study showed on Monday.

Italy doesn't need German cash, Prime Minister Mario Monti tells Germans

BERLIN: Italy needs moral support from Germany but not its cash, Prime Minister Mario Monti said in an interview published on Sunday as German conservatives renewed calls for Greece to leave the euro zone.

Downturn 'entrenched' in Germany amid poor eurozone PMI

Eurozone private sector activity contracted for the 10th time in 11 months in July, with data now consistently showing the downturn becoming "entrenched" in Germany, a key survey has showed.

Jobs Gains Topping Forecasts Ease U.S. Slowdown Concerns

The U.S. economy generated more jobs than forecast in July as automakers and health-care providers boosted employment, easing concern the three-year expansion is faltering, even as the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose

Leaders of Spain, Italy meet as markets drop

MADRID (AP) -- Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti said his country will not seek a sovereign bailout, though Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy, whom he met with on Thursday, dodged the question altogether as financial markets dropped sharply.

Fed says economy may need help, keeps policy on hold

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve stopped short of offering new monetary stimulus on Wednesday even as it signaled more strongly that further bond buying could be in store to help a economic recovery that it said had lost momentum this year.

Greece 'on the brink' as cash reserves dry up

Near-bankrupt Greece is fast running out of cash while it waits for its next installment of aid from international lenders, a deputy finance minister has said, sounding the alarm on the country's precarious financial position.