Iran pulls back from nuclear bomb goal: Israeli defense minister

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran has drawn back from its ambitions to build a nuclear weapon, Israel's defense minister was quoted as saying on Tuesday, while warning that his country may still have to decide next year whether to launch a military strike against it.

UK consumer lending hits 4-year high

Lending to UK consumers rose at the fastest pace in four and a half years in September and mortgage approvals hit a four-month high, according to official data.

Mario Draghi backs Wolfgang Schaeuble's 'super commissioner' plan

The head of the European Central Bank has thrown his weight behind a German scheme to allow the EU to intervene in countries' budgets and propose changes before they are agreed in parliaments.

Greek opposition rejects new cuts but won't force poll

PARIS (Reuters) - Greece's opposition leader denounced international lenders' demands as dealing the "final blow" to a devastated economy but said on Friday he would not seek to bring down the government.

Germany not immune to eurozone slowdown

Germany is not immune to the contraction in the eurozone, as the European Central Bank's Mario Draghi defends bond-buying and Greece claims an austerity victory.

Canadian retail sales disappoint in August

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian retail sales rose less than expected in August from July while volume fell, suggesting debt-laden consumers will provide only limited support to broader economic growth in the third quarter.

German economy may stagnate as crisis drags on powerhouse

The German economy could grind to a standstill by the end of the year amid the combined impact of the debt crisis and the global slowdown, the Bundesbank has warned.