BOJ keeps upbeat view of economy, maintains asset purchases

TOKYO, June 19 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady and maintained its upbeat assessment of the economy on Friday, signalling its conviction that inflation will hit its 2 percent target without additional monetary stimulus.

Greece Buys Time From ECB as Tsipras Says Country Will Prevail

Greece secured a few more days of financial breathing space from the European Central Bank, as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on a visit to Russia that his country can survive its current crisis.

Emerging Markets Hold the Keys to Higher Gold Prices

Gold investors better start paying attention to China and India. After dismal performance for the past two and half years, HSBC Securities analyst James Steel says that emerging-market demand will be the key driver for gold prices.

Iran urges France not to miss out on $80 billion of transport deals

PARIS (Reuters) - Iran's transport minister said on Tuesday there was about $80 billion worth of business up for grabs in his sector, including the renewal of the country's air fleet, but warned France it risked missing out unless it changed its stance toward Tehran.

Greek talks must yield imminent agreement, says European Central Bank

Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank, has warned that time is rapidly running out to resolve the Greek debt crisis, as financial markets took fright at the prospect of a looming default.

Zimbabweans get chance to swap 'quadrillions' for a few US dollars

Zimbabweans will start exchanging “quadrillions” of local dollars for a few US dollars next week as President Robert Mugabe’s government discards its virtually worthless national currency.

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.