Canada Recession Threat Renews Rate-Cut Calls

The threat of a recession and lower interest rates in Canada are making the Group of Seven’s best-performing bond market even more attractive.

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.

Bank of America fourth-quarter profit hurt by low interest rates

(Reuters) - Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), the second largest U.S. bank by assets, reported a 14 percent fall in quarterly profit as a decline in bond yields further crimped earnings.

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.

French economy minister urges alternative to German austerity

(Reuters) - The time has come for France to resist Germany's "obsession" with austerity and promote alternative policies across the euro zone that support household consumption, firebrand French Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg said on Sunday.

US court fines Credit Suisse trader over bond prices

A New York court has fined a former UK-based Credit Suisse trader for his role in artificially inflating bond prices.

Russia, China to create joint rating agency as ties grow

(Reuters) - Russia and China have reached an agreement to create a joint credit rating agency and are working on a series of measures to make trade easier, Russia's finance minister said on Tuesday, a sign of growing ties between the neighbors.

Global accounting body airs possible reform of bank hedging rule

(Reuters) - Investors would be able to make a more accurate assessment of how well banks manage risks on their books under proposals published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Thursday.

Europe's top banks cut 80,000 more staff in post-crisis overhaul

(Reuters) - Europe's largest banks cut their staff by another 3.5 percent last year and the prospect of a return to pre-crisis employment levels seems far off, despite the region's fledgling economic recovery.

UK economy set to strengthen this year, BCC says

The UK's economic recovery is set to gather momentum this year, according to the latest quarterly survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

U.S. bank group launches Volcker rule legal challenge

(Reuters) - The American Bankers Association on Monday initiated a legal challenge to a provision of the "Volcker rule" that restricts bank ownership of certain investments.

Wall Street facing tighter scrutiny as regulators move on Volcker rule

Wall Street is facing tighter scrutiny of its trading activities after US regulators moved on Tuesday to impose stricter rules on the types of trades banks can make following the financial crisis.

UK manufacturing expands at fastest pace in three years

Manufacturing returned to form in November as the sector steamed ahead with the fastest growth in nearly three years, following two months in which the pace of expansion slowed.

The UK's widening trade gap is worrying – but hardly a shock

Disappointing and worrying but hardly a shock. That's the way to look at the latest set of UK trade figures showing the biggest deficit for a year.

UK says its local banking rules eased for all, not just Chinese

LONDON: Britain is ready to relax its banking rules for any non-European bank, not just those from China who want to set up investment banking operations in London, its chief industry regulator said on Thursday.

Abe Seen Facing Stock Rout in Case of Suspending Japan Tax Rise

Japanese shares could plunge 10 percent or more if Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fails to carry through on a plan to raise a sales tax in April. 

IMF urges urgent action from Spain to create jobs, growth

MADRID: Spain's reform progress and a correction in its fiscal and external imbalances are helping it to stabilise its economy, but urgent action is needed to create jobs and stimulate growth, the International Monetary Fund said.

Does gold price collapse signal a vote in economic confidence?

In principle, holding gold is a form of insurance against war, financial Armageddon and wholesale currency debasement. And from the onset of the global financial crisis, the price of gold has often been portrayed as a barometer of global economic insecurity.

Cyprus races to avoid financial collapse

Politicians in Cyprus and European officials were engaged in emergency talks Wednesday to head off the financial collapse of the beleaguered island nation.

Bank of England remains split 6-3 on asset purchases in March

LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England is worried about further sterling weakness and remains at an impasse over providing more support for Britain's stagnant economy, minutes of its March 6-7 policy meeting showed on Wednesday.