Belgium on the brink of recession as Q4 output falls

BRUSSELS: Belgium's economy contracted in the fourth quarter, preliminary data from the central bank showed on Wednesday, leaving the country close to a technical recession.

Spain's Rajoy adds some stimulus to the austerity

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's conservative prime minister is preparing a package of small measures - such as tax breaks for young entrepreneurs - to stimulate the economy even as he vows to stick to budget cuts.

Kuwait MPs target financial help for citizens

KUWAIT (Reuters) - A parliamentary committee in Kuwait proposed on Sunday that the government pay a portion of the interest on citizens' personal loans and give a 1,000 Kuwaiti dinar ($3,500) gift to each Kuwaiti without such debts, state news agency KUNA reported.

Davos: Bankers, policymakers say Europe's crisis not over

DAVOS: International bankers and finance ministers warned on Saturday that Europe's crisis was not over even though the euro currency is now stabilised, it will take years to overcome economic malaise and mass unemployment in Europe.

Britain's economy flirts with "triple dip" recession

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's economy shrank more than expected at the end of 2012 with a North Sea oil production slump, lower factory output and a hangover from London's Olympics pushing it perilously close to a "triple-dip" recession.

China, India to lead 2013 global growth: Report

NEW YORK: Emerging economies will lead growth in 2013 as the global economic outlook remains challenged by the eurozone's debt crisis and high unemployment in the United States, according to a report released on Wednesday.

World unemployment figures set to rise in 2013, claims UN labour agency

A record 202 million people could be unemployed across the world in 2013, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday.

France Proposes an Internet Tax

PARIS — France, seeking fresh ways to raise funds and frustrated that American technology companies that dominate its digital economy are largely beyond the reach of French fiscal authorities, has proposed a new levy: an Internet tax on the collection of personal data.

Likely new Eurogroup head wants to move on from crisis-fighting

(Reuters) - The man likely to head the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers told his colleagues on Monday he wanted to move on from simply fighting crises and focus on longer-term policies to cement fledgling confidence.

Portuguese Bonds Rise as Coelho Signals Return to Bond Market

Portuguese 10-year bonds rose for a third week after Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho signaled the nation plans to return to the debt market as it does not want a second rescue program.

Fed survey: US economy picked up at end of year

WASHINGTON (AP) — Holiday shopping, strong auto sales and a recovering housing market helped boost the U.S. economy from the middle of November through early January, according to a Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday.

Insight: In recession-hit Spain, hints of new competitiveness

(Reuters) - As a provider of financial security systems, Spanish tech company Realsec might easily have fallen victim to the country's banking crisis and economic slump.

Ugly Choices Loom Over Debt Clash

The showdown over the nation's debt ceiling could force the government to consider drastic steps to manage its limited cash, including delaying trillions of dollars of payments to employees, Social Security recipients, contractors and others.

Greece Sees Gold Boom, but at a Price

IERISSOS, Greece — In the forest near here, bulldozers have already begun flattening hundreds of acres for an open pit gold mine and a processing plant, which Canada’s Eldorado Gold Corporation hopes to open within two years.

World Trade Organisation's new boss will face an in-tray filled with problems

At an elegant 1920s building set in a lush park on the shore of Lake Geneva this month, nine senior global politicians – six men and three women – will be attending an extraordinary job interview.

Pound Slumps Most Since February Versus Euro on Growth Concern

The pound posted its biggest weekly decline against the euro since February amid speculation the U.K. is struggling to maintain growth as European policy makers signaled optimism for the euro-region’s economy.

Geithner Began With 'Smoldering' Economy; What Does He Leave?

Outgoing Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has had a bruising four years. He took office when the U.S. economy was plunging into the worst recession since the Great Depression.

Can Europe's markets climb through the slump?

NEW YORK (AP) — The big worry a year ago was that Greece would collapse under its debts, upend Europe's markets and set off a global financial crisis.

China economy to overtake US by 2019: State research

BEIJING: China will overtake the United States economically within six years, an official research institute predicts, and go on to become the world's most important country in three decades more, state media said Wednesday.

UK trade deficit narrows but remains on track for another poor year

Britain's trade deficit narrowed slightly in November, but remained on track to record another poor year for the balance of payments.

Canada's Ivey PMI rises in December, but worries persist

TORONTO (Reuters) - Purchasing activity in Canada rose modestly in December, according to Ivey Purchasing Managers Index data released on Monday, but the reading failed to impress economists as Canada's economy struggles to grow.

Japan sees opportunity in Myanmar's emerging economy

YANGON (Reuters) - Japan's deputy prime minister confirmed fresh financial aid for Myanmar on Friday during a visit to an industrial zone that underlined the long-isolated nation's growing importance as an economic partner.

Spain sees jobless total fall in December

The number of people registered unemployed in Spain fell in December, the Labour Ministry has said, a rare glimmer of hope for its recession-hit economy.

China services growth adds to economic revival hopes

BEIJING (Reuters) - Growth in China's increasingly important services sector accelerated in December at its fastest pace in four months, adding to signs of a modest year-end revival in the world's second-largest economy.

Euro-Zone Manufacturing Shrinks in December

Activity among euro-zone manufacturers shrank further in December, a gauge of activity showed Wednesday, as factories across the currency area's biggest economies cut back on their output.

Analysis: Economy would dodge bullet for now under fiscal deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A deal worked out by Senate leaders to avoid the "fiscal cliff" was far from any "grand bargain" of deficit reduction measures.