French jobless claims hit highest this century

PARIS (Reuters) - France had more jobseekers in April than any time this century as numbers rose for the twelfth month running, and the labor ministry said it was braced for more layoffs in the months ahead.

Greek euro exit would halve incomes, report warns

ATHENS, Greece - Greece's biggest bank says that if the country exits the euro currency bloc the effect on the nation's populace would be dramatic.

Giant Lender in Spain Asks for Billions to Fend Off Collapse

MADRID — Spain’s banking crisis worsened Friday as the board of Bankia, the country’s biggest mortgage lender, warned that it would need an additional 19 billion euros ($23.88 billion), far beyond what the government estimated when it seized the bank and its portfolio of delinquent real estate loans earlier this month.

Euro Zone Crisis To Hit Colombia, Chile; Won't Derail Growth

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- Chilean finance minister Felipe Larrain said Thursday his country will be hit by the euro-zone crisis in the coming months, though not strongly enough to derail economic growth.

Crisis clouds gather over German economy

FRANKFURT: Exports and consumer demand are cushioning Germany against recession, data showed on Thursday, but crisis clouds are gathering over Europe's biggest economy as business confidence falls sharply.

European business activity falls to near three-year low

Activity at European businesses hit a near three-year low in May, according to a survey by Markit. Its index, based on a survey of purchasing managers in the manufacturing and service sector, fell to 45.9 in May, a 35-month low.

Eurozone crisis: Germany and France clash over eurobonds at summit

European leaders were locked in deep divisions over the future of Greece and the single currency, with Germany and France at loggerheads for the first time in 30 months over how to restore confidence in the euro.

Germany insists no eurobonds to solve debt crisis

BERLIN: Germany has again made clear its opposition to French proposals for jointly-issued bonds from the 17-nation eurozone as a way to create economic growth and ease the region's financial crisis.

Greeks fearful of euro exit as crisis gathers

THENS: Greeks fear that if their country is forced out of the eurozone, and much of the speculation is that it will be, then they will face soaring prices with the return to a drachma which must fall sharply.

A War of Words Over the Euro Crisis

BERLIN — A telephone conversation on Friday between Germany’s chancellor and Greece’s president became the latest flashpoint in the war of words between Berlin and Athens in the unfolding crisis over Greece’s membership in the euro.

Greek euro exit could throw UK 'into long-term recession'

Greece leaving the euro could plunge Britain into a recession that would cause lasting damage to the economy, the chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility, Robert Chote, has said.

Greece downgraded deeper into junk

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The credit rating on Greece's government debt was downgraded deeper into junk bond territory on Thursday.

Euro Crisis Is Still US Regional Banks Best M&A Target

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The euro zone crisis may be the best opportunity for U.S. regional banks to grow the top and bottom line that's come around in a while.

Euro zone risks spark broad-based selloff

LONDON: Uncertainty over the impact of a potential Greek exit from the euro drove a rush to safety by investors on Monday, sending the single currency and European shares down to near four-month lows.

ECB's Patrick Honohan says Greek euro exit would not be 'fatal'

A Greek exit from the eurozone would damage confidence in the single currency bloc but not necessarily be fatal, Irish central bank chief and European Central Bank policymaker Patrick Honohan said on Saturday.

Spain forces banks to set aside €30bn

Madrid, Spain (TOE) - The Spanish government has announced a new set of financial reforms, particularly aimed at cleaning up country's banking system infested with bad loans.

Spain, Portugal want more European investment help

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The leaders of Spain and Portugal said Wednesday they want the European Investment Bank to play a bigger role in generating economic growth on the continent by financing more business projects.

Stocks: Investors unnerved by Greece

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- U.S. stocks were set to open lower Tuesday as Greece's uncertain political situation keeps investors on edge.

Challenge to Austerity, And Germany, Is Sharpened

BERLIN—Europe's voters delivered another rebuke to their leaders Sunday for failing to overcome a debt crisis that has thrust much of the region into an economic tailspin.

Markets braced for shift away from austerity as Francois Hollande wins French election

Financial markets are braced for a radical shift in economic policy and fresh question marks over a eurozone break-up, as Francois Hollande moves into the Elysee Palace on Monday as the first Socialist president of France for 30 years.

Euro Drops as Slowing Growth and Elections Damp Demand

The euro slid versus the dollar by the most in almost a month and reached an 11-week low against the yen after further slowing in the region’s economies and before national elections that may result in leadership changes.

Analysis: Greek election set to rock shaky euro zone

(Reuters) - Overshadowed by the prospect of a Socialist win in France's presidential vote, the parliamentary election in Greece on Sunday carries far greater risks for the euro zone.

Eurozone jobless rate hits record high

Unemployment in the eurozone reached a record high again in March as spending cuts continued to hit the working population.

Portugal Commits to Budget Cuts

LISBON—Portugal's government Monday approved a strategic budget plan for the next four years, which includes spending limits and, as expected, commits to stringent budget deficit targets for next year.

UK at risk of longer slump as euro crisis hits factories

British manufacturing output barely grew at all in April as an economic slowdown in the euro zone curbed demand for goods made in Britain, a survey showed on Tuesday, raising the risk of a longer recession.

Spain in recession as austerity bites deep

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain sank into recession in the first quarter and economists said spending cuts aimed at meeting strict EU deficit limits, together with a reeling bank sector, would delay any return to growth until late this year or beyond.