Swiss economic growth accelerates despite euro zone crisis

ZURICH: The Swiss economy grew more than expected in the first three months of the year thanks to strong private and public consumption, even as exporters tussled with a stubbornly strong franc and crisis in the euro zone.

Spain remains under pressure at short-term debt sale

(Reuters) - Spain's short-term borrowing costs nearly doubled compared with a month ago at auctions on Tuesday, even though it opted to sell relatively small amounts of debt given investor doubts about its shrinking economy and a new flare-up in the euro zone crisis.

Consumer sentiment up, trade gap narrows

(Reuters) - An index of consumer sentiment rose to its highest in six months in early December and the trade deficit narrowed in October in the latest signs that the U.S. economy's health is slowly improving.