Canada, EU formally conclude free trade pact

Ottawa – Canadian and European leaders on Friday formally concluded a free trade agreement that is widely seen as a template for a larger pact between the EU and the United States.

While ECB struggles, Fed sees recovery

(Reuters) - On one side of the Atlantic they're trying to refill the punchbowl. On the other they're getting ready to take it away.

Draghi May Discover Weaker Euro Doesn’t Buy Enough Recovery

Mario Draghi may find a falling currency can’t buy much of an economic recovery. The euro has dropped toward a two-year low against the dollar since the European Central Bank president boosted stimulus earlier this month.

Ukraine doing all not to repay $3 billion bond - Russia finance minister

(Reuters) - Ukraine is doing everything it can to either declare its $3 billion bailout bond held by Moscow invalid or to not repay its debts, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told Reuters on Thursday.

Car manufacturing hits reverse gear

UK car manufacturing went into reverse in August as factories closed for the summer holidays. A total of 71,065 cars rolled off production lines last month, 22% less than the 91,282 cars built in August 2013, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Japan PMI shows manufacturing picked up in third-quarter, more data needed for tax hike decision

(Reuters) - Japan's manufacturing activity picked up in the third quarter, a survey showed, but economists say they need more information on wages and consumer spending to determine whether the government should raise the sales tax again next year.

Valls says France would never ask Germany to solve its problems

(Reuters) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls sought to reassure Berlin on Tuesday that his country was making progress on economic reforms and would not ask Germany to solve its problems.

U.S. economy may need to exceed full employment for inflation to rise: Fed's Dudley

(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve may briefly allow the U.S. unemployment rate to fall below what is considered sustainable in the long run in order for inflation to rise to the central bank's target, New York Federal Reserve bank president William Dudley said on Monday.

UK's opposition Labor to tell voters ahead of election: Trust us on economy

(Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labor party will try to convince voters it can be trusted with the economy by promising on Monday it would cut ministerial salaries and curb public spending if it wins a national election next year.

German industry lobby cuts growth forecast on crises

(Reuters) - Germany's main industry lobby has cut its 2014 growth forecasts for Europe's largest economy, saying the crises in Ukraine, Iraq and the Middle East were creating uncertainty for companies, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

U.S. Treasury's Lew calls for euro zone, Japan to do more on growth

(Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Friday called on the euro zone and Japan to do more to spur growth as the global economy continues to disappoint, highlighting what is sure to be a bone of contention as Group of 20 ministers gather in Australia.

India calls for G20 swap lines to mitigate U.S. stimulus withdrawal

(Reuters) - India urged the Group of 20 nations on Thursday to consider creating currency swap lines to mitigate the impact on emerging economies of the expected withdrawal of the U.S. Federal Reserve's vast monetary stimulus.

US consumer prices fall in August

US consumer prices fell in August for the first time since April 2013, Labor Department figures show. The Consumer Price Index declined 0.2% last month, following an increase of 0.1% in July.

Cameron Says Scots Independence Dream Risks Painful Split

Prime Minister David Cameron made a final plea to Scotland’s voters, urging them to step back from an illusory “dream” of risk-free independence and avoid the irreversible breakup that would come with a “yes” vote.

Weeping wallets: Economic recovery has skipped most income groups

Upper-income folks have experienced rich economic recovery, while low- and mid-income families continue to lag, and consumer confidence is weak, according to recent reports that highlight a post-recession widening gap in the way differently situated households have fared.

No significant risk of deflation spiral in euro zone: ECB's Weidmann

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank sees no significant risks of a deflation spiral in the euro zone, the bank's Governing Council member Jens Weidmann said on Saturday, adding the bloc's growth would stay subdued into the next year.

EU imposes further Russia sanctions

Some of Russia's best-known companies, including arms-maker Kalashnikov and energy firms Rosneft and Gazprom, have been targeted in the latest round of EU sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

Indonesia Holds Interest Rate to Curb Current-Account Gap

Indonesia’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate for a 10th straight meeting to help narrow a current-account deficit, even as economic growth and inflation slow.

Carney: massive shortfall in currency reserves for independent Scotland

Mark Carney was dragged further into the debate about the currency implications for an independent Scotland on Wednesday, telling MPs that in the event of a yes vote Scotland would need to amass billions of pounds of currency in reserves if it uses sterling without a formal agreement with Westminster.

UN makes call for new approach to sovereign debt crises

The United Nations has called for a new legal system to help countries resolve unsustainable debts. The immediate spur for the call was the difficulty faced by Argentina.

U.S. job openings hold near 13-year high in July

(Reuters) - U.S. job openings held near a 13-year high in July while hiring picked up, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Big business will force change in garment trade, vows Wall St boss

Big business and financial investors, not consumers, will force better conditions in the world's textile factories, according to the head of an investment firm aiming to pump $500m (£306m) into creating a more ethical garment industry.

ECB's Visco says must be ready to do more for price stability: paper

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank should be ready to take further measures to guarantee monetary stability if needed, Ignazio Visco, the governor of the Bank of Italy and a member of the ECB Governing Council said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

Economic recovery, aging society and expanded coverage will boost health care inflation

WASHINGTON - The nation's respite from troublesome health care inflation is ending, the government said Wednesday in a report that renews a crucial budget challenge for lawmakers, taxpayers, businesses and patients.

Draghi Sees Almost $1 Trillion Stimulus as QE Fight Waits

Mario Draghi signaled at least 700 billion euros ($906 billion) of fresh aid for his moribund economy and left a fight with Germany over sovereign-bond purchases for another day.

CBI predicts UK growth will slow in second half of 2014

The CBI business lobby group has said it expects UK economic growth to slow in the second half of this year as the impact of improved business and consumer confidence starts to ease.

Fed's Fisher says gradual rate rises won't 'brake' U.S. economy

(Reuters) - The U.S. economy is 'in a pretty good place,' Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said on Wednesday, adding that he believes it will soon be ready for gradual interest rate increases but stopping short of saying when.

Spanish manufacturing grows for ninth straight month in August: PMI

(Reuters) - Spain's manufacturing sector expanded for the ninth straight month in August as new orders flooded in and firms took on more staff as the economy recovers, a survey showed on Monday.

UK manufacturing growth ebbs, denting hopes for balanced recovery

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's manufacturing revival slowed sharply last month as the Ukraine crisis crimped demand from abroad, further denting hopes for a more balanced economic recovery.

Seeing Just One Way for Greece to Go: Up

ATHENS — The first time Gikas Hardouvelis left his job as a bank economist to try his hand at Greek politics, in 2000, the country was preparing to join the euro currency union, looking forward to a period of prosperity and optimism.