BOJ chief says easy policy affects financial stability

TOKYO (Reuters) - The head of the Bank of Japan said on Monday that monetary policy has a substantial impact not only on prices but also on financial system stability by affecting various asset prices.

India regains 'stable' outlook from S&P on Modi reform agenda

(Reuters) - India regained its "stable" rating from Standard and Poor's on Friday, more than two years after an embarrassing downgrade, in a validation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious agenda of economic and fiscal reforms.

Average house price in England and Wales approaching 2007 peak

The average house price in England and Wales is now just £3,500 off the peak of November 2007 thanks largely to a property price surge in London last month, according to the Land Registry.

Markets More in Agreement than Fed on Interest Rate Path

Financial-market participants are in closer agreement about where the Federal Reserve will steer interest rates than the central bank’s own policy makers, according to a study by the New York Fed.

Renzi Vows to Press Ahead With His Italian Reform Agenda

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he will press ahead with his plan to overhaul the country’s labor market, a top priority in his agenda, even amid opposition from unions and members of his political party.

Chinese vice-premier keen to revive talks with Japan: executives

(Reuters) - Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang looks forward to "quickly reviving" high-level economic talks with Japan, he was quoted by visiting Japanese executives as saying on Wednesday, indicating a possible thaw in relations between Asia's two biggest economies.

Appetite for loans picks up again, say major banks

The amount of new borrowing through personal loans has outstripped repayments every month this year, figures from UK banks have indicated.

Bank of Israel Holds Benchmark Rate at Record Low of 0.25%

The Bank of Israel left the benchmark lending rate unchanged following two consecutive surprise cuts, holding it at a record low as the inflation rate dropped to zero and economic growth slowed.

Clinton: Turn female economic issues into movement

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that voters need to turn pay inequity and women's economic security into a political movement in the November elections and beyond, pointing to an issue that could animate a future presidential campaign.

China says will not alter policy because of one economic indicator

(Reuters) - China will not dramatically alter its economic policy because of any one economic indicator, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said on Sunday, in remarks that came days after many economists lowered growth forecasts having seen the latest set of weak data.

Russian PM Medvedev vows to keep economy open, hails pivot to China

(Reuters) - Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Russia would not isolate its sanctions-hit economy from the West but said improving relations with Asian countries has become a key strategy.

Ireland's economy fastest growing in European Union

Ireland's economy has surged 7.7% in a year, according to official figures that appear to show the former Tiger economy has rediscovered its vigour.

Bank split 7-2 on interest rate rise

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was divided for the second consecutive month over interest rate policy, latest minutes show.

China August FDI falls to lowest in at least two-and-a-half years

(Reuters) - China's foreign direct investment inflows in August fell to a low not seen in at least 2-1/2 years, underscoring the challenges to growth facing the world's second-biggest economy.

U.S. and European Sanctions Take Aim at Putin’s Economic Efforts

WASHINGTON — The United States and the European Union dealt a blow on Friday to Russian efforts to develop future oil sources in the Arctic and elsewhere, broadening and deepening the range of sanctions imposed on Moscow in retaliation for its intervention in Ukraine despite the potential cost to Western firms like Exxon Mobil and BP.

China August factory growth slows to near six-year low, calls grow for more stimulus

(Reuters) - China's factory output grew at the weakest pace in nearly six years in August while growth in other key sectors also cooled, raising fears the world's second-largest economy may be at risk of a sharp slowdown unless Beijing takes fresh stimulus measures.

U.S. consumer sentiment at 14-month high in September

(Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment rose in September to its highest in more than a year on more upbeat views on the domestic economy in the coming year, a survey released on Friday showed.

Japan business mood turns positive: government survey

(Reuters) - Confidence at big Japanese manufacturers turned positive in July-September and they expect business conditions to improve further in the following quarter, a government survey showed, suggesting a gradual economic recovery from the slump after April's sales tax hike.

France to miss EU budget deficit target

France has admitted it will overshoot the EU's 3% budget deficit target this year, putting the eurozone's second-biggest economy on a collision course with Brussels.

Geopolitical conflicts weighing on German economy

(Reuters) - The German economy remains on track for expansion but geopolitical conflicts and weakness elsewhere in the euro zone are weighing on growth, the economy ministry said in its monthly report on Wednesday.

Ukraine crisis: EU adopts new sanctions on Russia

European Union member states have formally adopted new sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

Pound slumps to 10-month low after Scottish yes campaign takes poll lead

The pound has slumped to a 10-month low after the yes campaign took the lead in the opinion polls just 10 days before the Scottish independence vote.

Italian business pushes Renzi for action

(Reuters) - The annual meeting of Italy's business elite on the shores of Lake Como was - again - dominated by calls for reforms and gloomy discussion of an economic crisis now well into its sixth year.

U.S. Stocks Extend Record in Week as Jobs Data Boost Fed Bets

U.S. stocks rose a fifth week, giving the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) its longest rally this year, as investors speculated weaker jobs growth will prevent the Federal Reserve from raising rates sooner than anticipated.

Canada Posts Surprise August Employment Decline

Canadian employment unexpectedly fell in August led by a record drop in private-sector jobs, undermining policy makers’ optimism about Canada’s economic recovery.

ECB cuts rates to ward off euro zone deflation threat

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank cut interest rates to new record lows on Thursday, unexpectedly lowering borrowing costs to try to lift inflation from rock-bottom levels and support the stagnating euro zone economy.

South Korea inflation eases to five-month low, gives central bank room to cut again

(Reuters) - South Korea's annual inflation in August eased to its lowest in five months, data on Tuesday showed, giving the central bank sufficient headroom to cut interest rates again to spur economic growth.

Australia's central bank keeps rates low amid moderate growth

(Reuters) - Australia's central bank kept interest rates at record lows for the 12th straight policy meeting on Tuesday and seemed content to stay on the sidelines for a while to come as the economy wrestles with a waning mining boom.

Central European PMIs point to slowdown as sanctions hit sentiment

(Reuters) - Polish manufacturing activity shrank for a second straight month in August and Czech expansion slowed more than expected, adding to signs weaker euro zone economies and crisis in Ukraine are cooling growth in the EU's east.

Ukraine, Afghanistan issues to dominate NATO Summit

WASHINGTON: The current situation in Ukraine and the security transition in Afghanistan at the end of the year will dominate the proceedings of the NATO Summit next week, according to White House officials.