Greece to get 6 bln euros in bridge loans if no agreement at Eurogroup -report

Aug 14 Greece could get 6.04 billion euros in bridge financing if euro zone finance ministers cannot agree on the planned third bailout for Athens when they meet on Friday, according to German newspaper Bild, citing a European Commission proposal for the meeting.

Euro zone inflation beats expectations in May

Inflation in the euro zone was higher than expected in May, data on Tuesday showed, in a sign that price pressures are returning to a recovering economy.

IMF: EU life insurers in danger from low interest rates

Washington (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday that Europe's life insurers face a "high and rising threat" to their solvency from the long period of low interest rates.

U.S. Stocks Rise to Records, Euro Gains

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose, sending benchmark indexes to records, while the euro advanced with European equity futures after finance ministers reached agreement to extend bailout funds to Greece.

German Opposition at ECB Hardens as Lautenschlaeger Rebuffs QE

Germany’s board member at the European Central Bank said quantitative easing isn’t the right choice for the euro area at present, hardening a split among policy makers on how to respond to slowing inflation.

IMF, U.S. encourage ECB, Japan monetary stimulus

(Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund and the United States encouraged the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan toward greater monetary stimulus on Friday and urged governments around the world to do their share to cultivate growth in their countries.

ECB starts buying covered bonds in fight to revive euro zone economy

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank has started buying covered bonds, an ECB spokesman said on Monday, opening a new front in its battle to revive the euro zone economy and keep deflation at bay.

IMF chief: eurozone showing symptoms of Japan’s chronic economic ills

Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, has warned that the eurozone is displaying the symptoms of Japan’s longstanding economic problems and needs fresh moves to avert the threat of recession.

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.

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.

ECB ready to adjust monetary policy, Coeure says in Greek paper

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank is ready to adjust its monetary policy further if needed and boost bank liquidity, ECB executive board member Benoit Coeure said in an essay published in Greek newspaper Ta Nea on Saturday.

Soros Chart Shows Euro-Yen Reaching 2008 High: Chart of the Day

The euro will surge to a six-year high against the yen by the end of 2014 as the European Central Bank isn’t printing money as fast as the Bank of Japan, according to Daiwa Securities Co.

German cabinet clears way for Europe's banking union

(Reuters) - Germany's cabinet has approved a package of draft laws which effectively give the go-ahead to Europe's plans for banking union - its main confidence-building response to the crisis in the financial sector, a government source said on Wednesday.

ECB's long-term loans to see strong demand, won't boost interbank lending: poll

(Reuters) - Demand for the European Central Bank's newly announced long-term loans will be strong, traders polled by Reuters said, but they will do little to boost interbank lending.

ECB Liquidity Success Depends on Loan Demand, Japan’s Aso Says

The European Central Bank’s bid to head off deflation hinges on the take up for the unprecedented cash it’s pumping into the economy, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said.

EU election casts shadow over euro zone as ECB meeting approaches

(Reuters) - Investors this week will be watching the results of elections that could deal a blow to political parties that are key to reform efforts in the European Union and could also fan instability in Ukraine.

Fed bond buying twice as effective on growth as BoE's: research

(Reuters) - Bond purchases by the U.S. Federal Reserve have been twice as effective at boosting economic output as those by the Bank of England, research by a BoE policymaker showed on Thursday.

Weak U.S. prices, not inflation, the threat now: Fed's Yellen

(Reuters) - Persistently low inflation poses a more immediate threat to the U.S. economy than rising prices, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Wednesday, stressing that the U.S. central bank would be delivering policy stimulus for some time to come.

Price cuts aid first-quarter growth for euro zone businesses

(Reuters) - Euro zone businesses started 2014 with their best quarter in three years, but buoyant growth came at a cost as they slashed prices to drum up trade, which could further stoke deflation fears.

Euro zone industry stumbles in December, but recovery still seen on track

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone industrial output fell more than expected in December, data showed on Wednesday, but probably not by enough to have stopped economic growth from picking up slightly in the last three months of the year.