Fitch affirms UK at AAA but warns on debt, economy

NEW YORK: Fitch Ratings affirmed the United Kingdom's AAA sovereign rating on Friday, but warned that government debt levels and lackluster growth could threaten that top-notch grade.

Japan Data Show Recession Risk Growing

TOKYO—Data released by the government Friday showed that Japan's economy may be slowing more than expected and could possibly move into a recession.

Spain Pledges Cuts to Meet Deficit Target as Bailout Looms

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s nine-month-old government announced its fifth austerity package in what may be a move to head off tougher conditions demanded as part of a potential European bailout.

Beware the threat from an America recovery, Mr Cameron

David Cameron took a risk appearing on the David Letterman show in New York on Wednesday night. The often-razor sharped chat show host is not in the business of deferring to politicians even when they lead America's closest ally.

IMF's Christine Lagarde warns of more global growth cuts

The International Monetary Fund looks likely to cut its forecast for global growth next month when it updates its projections for the world economy.

U.S. consumers, businesses taking it slow

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The U.S. manufacturing sector has contracted, consumers are watching their wallets and lawmakers in the nation’s capitol are fiddling their thumbs.

UK government borrowing rises to record August high

George Osborne's debt reduction plans took another blow last month as government borrowing hit its highest on record for any August.

China vows ongoing support to resolve eurozone debt crisis

BRUSSELS: China pledged continued assistance Thursday to help tackle the eurozone debt crisis, saying Europe was "on the right track" but needed to implement the measures agreed to fix its problems.

Finland's Europe minister Stubb questions need for EU treaty change

(Reuters) - Finland's Europe minister Alexander Stubb questioned the need for a change to the European Union's treaty, saying such a move would require too much time and raise uncertainty.

German faith in euro and EU lags behind French: poll

BERLIN (Reuters) - Almost two thirds of Germans think their country would be better off without the euro, according to a poll published on Monday which highlighted growing unease in Europe's largest economy about the costs of the euro crisis.

Spain must seek help to qualify for inclusion in debt buying plan: ECB policymaker

VIENNA: Spain would have to apply for a rescue package before qualifying for inclusion in the European Central Bank's plan to buy debt of struggling euro zone members, ECB policymaker Ewald Nowotny said.

Stocks, more than housing, seen as initial QE3 winners

(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's new economic stimulus plan involves printing vast sums of money to help people buy homes, but over the next year the program could do more to boost the economy by lifting stock prices.

India PM warns policy logjam could slow growth to 5 percent

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned on Saturday that a prolonged policy logjam could slow economic growth to 5 percent, a day after India unveiled long-delayed reforms aimed at reviving growth and preventing a credit rating downgrade.

UK unemployment falls as economy looks set to grow

LONDON (Reuters) - The number of Britons on unemployment benefits dropped in August by the largest amount in two years as companies created new jobs, raising hopes that improved prospects will allow consumers to spend more and get the recovery going.

China on track to meet 2012 growth target: Wen Jiabao

TIANJIN: China is on track to meet this year's target for economic growth and if needed the government could utilise a 100 billion yuan fiscal stability fund to boost growth, Premier Wen Jiabao said on Tuesday.

U.S. housing market recovering but price rises seen modest: Reuters Poll

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. housing market is starting to recover and home prices will see modest growth this year and next, according to a Reuters poll, which also suggested the property market would get little boost from any Fed buying of mortgage-backed debt.

French Sentiment, Factory Output Rise, Point to Rebound: Economy

French business confidence climbed for the first time this year last month and factory output unexpectedly increased in July, suggesting the euro region’s second-largest economy may regain some strength.

Irish central bank chief "confident" on banks deal

(Reuters) - Ireland's central bank governor is confident that the country will get a deal in the euro zone on easing the terms of its bank debt, it is just a question of what it looks like, he said on Sunday.

Infrastructure development key to economic recovery: Chinese President Hu Jintao

VLADIVOSTOK: Chinese President Hu Jintao urged Asia-Pacific nations on Saturday to speed up infrastructure development to help face the "grave challenges" from the global economy, in comments that follow Beijing's unveiling of $157 billion in such projects.

US jobs growth slows, spurring QE speculation

US jobs growth slowed last month, underlining the challenge President Barack Obama faces in convincing Americans to give him another four more years in The White House.

Global growth eases as demand falls: JPMorgan

LONDON (Reuters) - Growth in the world's private sector economy eased in August as a modest expansion in services was coupled with stagnating demand for manufactured goods, a business survey showed on Thursday.

Australian economy grows 0.6pc in second quarter

Australia's economy enjoyed solid growth last quarter to again outpace its peers, with gross domestic product rising 0.6pc, moderating from the previous quarter when it jumped 1.4pc.

Greece must stick to reform vows, insists Germany

BERLIN: German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Tuesday that Greece must stick to its reform promises to unlock bailout cash the debt-wracked country needs to stave off default and stay in the eurozone.

British leader Cameron to shake up his UK gov't

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron is making the first radical overhaul of his Cabinet since taking office in 2010, amid a stalled economy and after a series of humbling policy reversals.

ECB must do more for euro: OECD's Gurria

BLED, Slovenia (Reuters) - The European Central Bank should do more to stem the crisis in the euro zone because the current financial facilities are not enough, the secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Sunday.

China's manufacturing slump deepens

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- More bad news about China's factories: The country's manufacturing sector has contracted for the first time in nine months.

UK economy needs infrastructure stimulus, says BCC

The British Chambers of Commerce has called for more government spending on infrastructure as it predicted that UK GDP would shrink by 0.4% in 2012. The BCC also cut its forecast for 2013, from 1.9% to 1.2% growth.