IMF says Hungary needs 'different' policy for growth

BUDAPEST: Increased state interference and "frequent and unpredictable" changes in policy by the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban are undermining confidence in Hungary, hurting the investment climate and hindering growth, the IMF warned Friday.

Hockey helps Canada's economy grow again in January

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's economy bounced back from a year-end slump in January thanks to factories, mines and the return of professional ice hockey, but growth still looks too weak to match the central bank's upbeat outlook and interest rates are unlikely to budge until 2014.

OECD predicts stronger global growth

The world's major economies will see stronger growth this year, but Europe's recovery will continue to be slow, an international organisation has said.

Housing, manufacturing give US economy lift

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gains in housing and manufacturing propelled the U.S. economy over the winter, according to reports released Tuesday, and analysts say they point to the resilience of consumers and businesses as government spending cuts kick in.

Euro zone bailouts getting harder to agree: Policymakers

SAARISELKA: Finland, - Euro zone bailouts are getting tougher to agree as opposition within creditor nations grows and indebted states struggle to persuade citizens to back austerity, policymakers said on Sunday.

Spain Softens Austerity for Regions Anticipating EU Leeway

Spain is preparing to ease austerity for its most cash-strapped regions in anticipation that European Union peers will grant the government more time to reorder public finances in the second year of a recession.

China needs 'renewed reform momentum', says OECD survey

China needs a "renewed reform momentum" to sustain long term growth, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said.

Ireland's economy grew for a second year in 2012, slow exports cloud outlook

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland (OTC BB: IRLD - news) was one of the best-performing economies in the euro zone last year, continuing a gradual recovery from its financial crisis, though it tailed off in the second half as exports stalled, official data showed.

Britain's growth halved, Osborne turns to Bank of England for help

LONDON (Reuters) - Chancellor George Osborne turned to the Bank of England on Wednesday to help galvanise a stagnant economy which he said would grow this year at just half the rate previously expected.

Fed is expected to maintain stimulative programs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to maintain its resolve to keep borrowing costs at record lows despite growing signs that the economy is strengthening.

Osborne to stick with austerity, pray for growth

LONDON (Reuters) - Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is set to stick to his guns on austerity in next week's budget, despite increasing calls for a change of course, as he bets that growth will get back on track before an election in 2015.

Analysis: New Bank of Japan chief faces credibility test after landing top job

(Reuters) - Japanese lawmakers paved the way on Friday for a new central bank governor whose plan to defeat deflation rests on the belief that pumping huge amounts of yen into the economy will convince the public to start spending now because prices will rise.

US factory data underscores economic momentum

WASHINGTON: US manufacturing output bounced back in February in the latest signal of strength in an economy that is showing clear momentum despite the headwind from government austerity.

Britain's economic recovery is in sight and the pound has fallen far enough, says Governor Sir Mervyn King

The recovery is now “in sight” and the pound has fallen far enough, the Governor of the Bank of England has declared, sparking a rebound in sterling.

Jobless claims data brightens labor market picture

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped for a third straight week last week, the latest indication the labor market recovery was gaining traction.

No major upturn in sight for euro zone economy: Reuters poll

LONDON: The euro zone might escape recession in the second quarter but only because of Germany's economic strength, according to a Reuters poll on Wednesday that showed no prospect of even a moderate upturn soon.

OECD says growth outlook improving, led by US

PARIS: The economic outlook in major industrialised economies is improving with the United States and Japan leading the way, the OECD said on Monday, adding that activity in the euro zone was also picking up.

China data show uneven economic recovery, policy dilemma

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's uneven economic recovery signals a looming dilemma for policymakers as official data released at the weekend showed inflation at a 10-month high in February while factory output and consumer spending were weaker than forecast.

EU Chiefs Seeking to Stave Off Euro Crisis Turn to Cyprus

European leaders grappling with political deadlock in Italy and spiraling unemployment in France will turn to a financial rescue for Cyprus in an effort to stave off a return of market turmoil over the debt crisis.

Cable will back tax revolution

Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said that he supported “country-by-country” proposals first put forward by the European Parliament that would mean all businesses detailing the contribution they make to the state.

Economic recovery gathering momentum

ASHINGTON - The American job market isn't just growing. It's accelerating.Employers added 236,000 jobs in February and drove down the unemployment rate to 7.7 percent, its lowest level in more than four years.

German industrial orders drop unexpectedly

BERLIN (AP) — A fall in demand for German exports, particularly from other countries in the eurozone, caused an unexpected decline in industrial orders in Europe's biggest economy in January — a disappointment after a string of optimistic signals.

UK retail sales grew at fastest rate for years in February

UK retail sales grew at their fastest rate in more than three years in February, as the drier weather coaxed shoppers back out onto the High Street.

S.Africa has room to ease interest rates further: OECD

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa has room to ease monetary policy further to help boost growth, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said in a report released on Monday.

Recovery in U.S. Is Lifting Profits, but Not Adding Jobs

With the Dow Jones industrial average flirting with a record high, the split between American workers and the companies that employ them is widening and could worsen in the next few months as federal budget cuts take hold.

Long haul ahead for Britain's struggling economy

LONDON: When the financial crisis began to spread five years ago, British coffee machine-maker Fracino raced to get ahead of it.

Bernanke: Premature Fed pullback could 'short-circuit' recovery

WASHINGTON D.C.: Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, said on Friday that pulling back on aggressive policy measures too soon would pose a real risk of damaging a still-fragile recovery.

UK manufacturing suffers shock contraction

Activity in the UK's manufacturing sector unexpectedly shrank in February, according to a closely watched survey.

Developing world's trade role doubled since 1990: UN

GENEVA: The clout of developing countries in international trade networks has doubled in the past two decades, with globalised corporations driving the trend, a United Nations body said Wednesday.