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.

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.

Housebuilders boost UK construction sector output by 2%

Booming housebuilders pushed output across the construction sector up 2% in December last year, according to revised official figures, as rising house prices and cheap loan rates encouraged builders to expand the number of house starts.

France clips wings of 'chick' entrepreneurs

PARIS: France trimmed tax breaks and other advantages for small entrepreneurs on Wednesday, saying the benefits introduced under former President Nicolas Sarkozy had failed to help business start-ups and were open to abuse.