French econ min Macron: govt needs to cut spending for fiscal consolidation

(Reuters) - French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday the government has to take steps to make public debt more sustainable by cutting government expenditure.

Japan prices rise for ninth month ahead of tax increase

Consumer prices in Japan increased by 1.3% in February compared with the same period last year, marking the ninth month in a row of gains.

Italy must wait to see if reform efforts affect budget goals: minister

(Reuters) - Italy will have to wait to judge whether planned structural reforms will affect its ability to meet strict European Union budget limits, Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Monday.

EU spending cuts to hit Portugal's poor

(Reuters) - Spending cuts to European Union food aid programs could leave Portugal's growing ranks of poor with even emptier plates.

S&P downgrades Croatia's outlook to negative

ZAGREB: Standard & Poor's on Friday affirmed its rating for Croatia but revised its outlook from stable to negative, warning of a possible deterioration in the finances of the European Union's newest member.

BoJ policy welcome for world growth: IMF's Lagarde

BOAO, China (Reuters) - The head of the International Monetary Fund hailed Japan's unprecedented monetary policy boost this week as a welcome support for a world economy that she said has improved from a year ago.

BOJ to pump $1.4 trillion into economy in unprecedented stimulus

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan unleashed the world's most intense burst of monetary stimulus on Thursday, promising to inject about $1.4 trillion into the economy in less than two years, a radical gamble that sent the yen reeling and bond yields to record lows.

Greek PM says third bailout may be needed

The Greek prime minister Lucas Papademos has conceded that the crisis-plagued country could require a third bailout only weeks after it secured a second package of rescue funds following months of hand-wringing in Brussels.