Spain Falls Into Deflation, Upping Pressure On ECB

MADRID (AP) — Spain's inflation rate dipped into negative territory this month, official data showed Friday, a development likely to add pressure on the European Central Bank to ease its monetary policies.

Euro zone banks slow crisis loan returns as extra cash falls

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The pace at which euro zone banks are repaying their crisis loans to the European Central Bank has slowed significantly as extra cash in the system reaches critically low levels.

Euro-Area Economic Confidence Increases More Than Expected

Euro-area economic confidence increased more than analysts forecast in March, easing pressure on the European Central Bank to take action next week to counter low inflation and spur growth.

EU sets out plans to free finance for investment

(Reuters) - The European Union will look for ways other than the region's banks to finance infrastructure projects and invest in start-up companies, according to plans the EU published on Thursday.

Finland to raise taxes, cut spending to bring down deficit

(Reuters) - The Finnish government will raise taxes and cut spending to bring down the budget deficit, Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen said on Tuesday.

Euro zone inflation could stay low for longer than expected, says Bank of Finland

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Inflation in the euro zone could stay low for longer than previously thought, potentially causing difficulties in rebalancing the economy, the Bank of Finland said in its quarterly bulletin.

Scots Independence Debate Fails to Budge Voters in Monthly Poll

The debate over whether Scotland should become an independent country is failing to convince voters to switch sides even as the rival arguments intensify in the run-up to this year’s referendum, a monthly poll suggested.

ECB won't adopt threshold-based rate guidance: Constancio

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank will not tie interest-rate policy to specific economic thresholds, a top policymaker said on Saturday.

Euro-Area March Consumer Confidence Increases More Than Forecast

Euro-area consumer confidence increased more than economists forecast in March, adding to signs that the currency bloc’s recovery is gaining traction.

Euro zone shares set for biggest weekly gain in 2014

LONDON, March 21 (Reuters) - A top European share index was set for its best week of the year on Friday although stocks exposed to Russia remained sensitive as investors assessed the impact of tit-for-tat sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

Bankers fear leaks from ECB health check

(Reuters) - Euro zone bankers are worried that sensitive information will leak out before the official publication of the bloc's review of bank balance sheets, triggering speculation and making investors uneasy.

FOREX-Euro flat as Russia says won't annex other parts of Ukraine

NEW YORK, March 18 (Reuters) - A modest easing of geopolitical tensions over Ukraine and a slight increase in U.S. Treasury yields took some premium away from the euro on Tuesday, leaving it flat against the U.S. dollar and weaker against the yen.

German court says euro zone's crisis fund is legal

The highest court in German upheld a 2012 ruling on Tuesday, confirming the legality of the euro zone's new, permanent crisis defense mechanism.

Euro-Area February Inflation Slows, Keeps Pressure on ECB

Euro-area inflation unexpectedly slowed in February, keeping pressure on the European Central Bank to defend the currency bloc against falling prices.

U.K.’s Osborne to Boost Home Building, Extend Help-to-Buy

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said he will extend the Help-to-Buy program for newly built homes until 2020, and announced plans for a garden city outside London to spur Britain’s housing supply.

Spanish public debt hits new record in 2013

Madrid (AFP) - Spain reported Friday its public debt soared to a new record high in 2013 despite a slew of budget-cutting measures, ballooning to nearly 94 percent of the economy's entire annual output.

Euro Weakens Sharply Following Draghi Comments

The euro weakened sharply, and prices of German government debt rose, after comments by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi raised the possibility of easing measures to stave off deflation in the euro zone.

Irish Bonds Rise, Yields Drop to Record in Market Return

Ireland’s 10-year yield fell to a record as the nation auctioned government bonds for the first time since 2010, the latest sign the euro region’s financial woes are abating.

Time runs short as Europe haggles over banking union reform

BRUSSELS, March 11 (Reuters) - European ministers haggled over how to build a safety net for failing banks on Tuesday, redoubling efforts to avoid an embarrassing delay to the euro zone's centrepiece crisis reform.

Ukraine crisis: World Bank ready to provide $3.8 billion aid

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The World Bank said on Monday it is prepared to offer US$3 billion (S$3.8 billion) in aid to Ukraine this year to support economic reforms and development by its beleaguered new interim government.

ECB to reveal bad loan hurdles for euro zone bank test: sources

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank's stance on how bad loans are defined will be one of the biggest revelations to the euro zone's largest banks when it details on Tuesday how it will test balance sheets, three sources with knowledge of the tests told Reuters.

Euro Holds On To Strength

The euro maintained its strength on Monday even as tension in Ukraine continued.

Christine Lagarde angers Spain with repeat prescription of austerity

Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, has poured cold water on claims from the Spanish government that the recession is over and the country is on the road to recovery.

No impact on euro zone from Ukraine crisis but potential for trouble is great: Draught

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - European Commission President Mario Draghi said on Thursday that from a purely financial standpoint the crisis in Ukraine should not have much impact on the euro zone.

Bank of England keeps rates on hold at 0.5%

The Bank of England has kept rates on hold at 0.5 per cent, marking the fifth anniversary of ultra-loose monetary policy.

Italy PM Renzi pledges job creation, housing reforms next week

(Reuters) - Italy's new Prime Minister Matteo Renzi pledged on Wednesday to introduce a series of "very important reforms" next week to help create jobs, make housing more affordable and remodel crumbling school buildings.

Spain's February jobless slips 0.04 pc m/m to 4.8 million

MADRID: Spain's government hailed Tuesday a wafer-thin cut in the nation's jobless queues in February, a fresh sign that the labour market is stabilising after the loss of millions of jobs since 2008.

Draghi Sees Some Progress on Euro-Area Bank Lending

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that officials are seeing “progress” in lending as a slump in credit eases and surveys signal improvement in loan demand.

Euro zone inflation stabilizes in 'danger zone'

(Reuters) - Euro zone inflation stabilized in the European Central Bank's "danger zone" in February but did not fall as expected, making it less likely the ECB will loosen monetary policy further at its monthly meeting next week.

France Consumer Confidence Eases On Unemployment Worries

French consumer confidence declined slightly in February, erasing the gain logged in the previous month, as concerns over rising unemployment continued to haunt, damping economic expectations.

Euro Could Start Feeling The Effects Of Uncertainty In Ukraine

The euro was steady against the dollar and traded at $1.3682 at 6:45 GMT on Thursday morning. The common currency held its ground against an improving dollar which reached a two week high in the early hours of Thursday.