World Risks Third Food-Price Surge in a Decade on Record El Nino

The El Nino weather pattern sweeping the globe for the first time in five years risks setting off the next great surge in world food prices after they rose to records in 2008 and 2011, according to Nomura International Ltd.

Signs, Long Unheeded, Now Point to Risks in U.S. Economy

As investors scramble to make sense of the wild market swings in recent days, a number of financial experts argue that, for more than a year now, signs pointing to an equity crisis were there for all to see.

China's corporate debt 160 of GDP twice US level

HONG KONG: Beijing may have averted a crisis in its stock markets with heavy-handed intervention but the world's biggest corporate debt pile 16.1 trillion and rising is a much greater threat to its slowing economy and will not be so easily managed.

China's underground banks spread pain as defaults rise

BEIJING (AP) — Fan Xiaolin, an engineer in Changsha in central China, thought he was safe when he deposited his family's savings of 800,000 yuan ($130,000) in a private finance company he said was recommended by employees of state-owned Bank of China.

China June inflation seen edging up to 1.3 percent year-on-year but still sluggish

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's consumer inflation likely edged up in June as food prices steadied, while producer prices extended their decline well into a fourth year, reinforcing expectations that more support measures are needed to revive sluggish demand.

New Zealand cuts interest rate quarter point to 3.25 percent

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's central bank on Thursday cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 3.25 percent and signaled more cuts could be on the way as farmers grapple with a slump in prices for the country's key milk exports.

Australia's economy: is the lucky country running out of luck?

After 24 years of uninterrupted economic growth, Australia is entering the kind of difficult waters experienced by every other major developed country in the past decade.

Hong Kong Budget Addresses Causes and Effects of Occupy Protests

HONG KONG — Two months after protesters were cleared from the streets, the Hong Kong government announced on Wednesday a budget with tax breaks and other economic support for lower- and middle-class residents, and for the businesses it said had been disrupted by the demonstrations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New home sales fall, but U.S. economy stays on solid ground

(Reuters) - Sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell for a second straight month in July, but a surge in the stock of properties on the market and slower price gains should help stimulate demand in the months ahead.

Profit growth at Chinese state firms accelerates in H1

(Reuters) - China's state-owned firms enjoyed faster growth in their profits in the first six months of 2014, official data showed on Thursday, the latest indication that the economy is picking up as government stimulus measures kick in.

Turkey to keep economic policies and personnel under Erdogan presidency -officials

ISTANBUL/ANKARA, July 7 (Reuters) - Turkish officials say key economic ministers will stay in post if, as expected, prime minister Tayyip Erdogan becomes president next month, and they dismissed fears that policy would take a populist turn, jeopardising more than a decade of strong growth.

Housebuilding boosts UK construction again in June

An increase in housebuilding helped the UK construction industry to grow at its fastest pace for four months in June, a survey has suggested.

Bundesbank Cuts Prices Forecast as ECB Fights Low Inflation

The Bundesbank cut its inflation forecast for Germany this year, reflecting the euro area’s battle with subdued price pressures.

U.S. economic growth could top 3 percent in second quarter: Fed's Lockhart

(Reuters) - The U.S. economy could grow 3 percent or more in the second quarter of this year and the housing market is likely to pick up again after recent sluggishness, a U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Sunday.

Big ANC majority could usher in South African economic reforms

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - In the 20 years since apartheid, South African jewellery designer Nthabiseng Xaba has gone from bank clerk to state employee to thriving entrepreneur - just the kind of economic improvement story the government wants to promote.