France vows 20 million euros for fight against Ebola

PARIS: France on Tuesday said it was pledging 20 million euros ($25.4 million) in the fight against Ebola in west Africa, including the opening of several care centres in Guinea.

Italy cuts 2015 deficit goal to win EU approval for budget

(Reuters) - Italy on Tuesday cut its target for the 2015 fiscal deficit to 2.6 percent of gross domestic product from 2.9 percent, having toughened its budget plan for next year in response to changes requested by the European Commission.

ECB covered bond buying plan starts with a whimper

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank spent 1.704 billion euros last week on covered bonds under a new purchase program with which it hopes to foster lending to businesses and thereby support the euro zone economy.

Twenty-four European banks fail financial stress tests

One in five European banks have failed crucial tests of their financial strength, leaving a €25bn (£19.6bn) capital hole in the continent’s banking system at a time of renewed fears that the five-year long eurozone crisis may be flaring up again.

The EU budget: who pays what?

The joint budget of the 27 members of the European Union is 129 billion euros ($165 billion) this year. It is used to subsidize the European agricultural sector, structural and regional aid, and programs in the fields of science, research and culture as well as some industries.

Stagnating euro zone seeks German shift

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - France and Italy sought on Friday to bridge stark differences with Germany over how to avert economic stagnation and deflation, but Chancellor Angela Merkel warned her peers against repeating the euro zone's debt crisis.

Euro zone risks 'relapse into recession' without structural reforms: Draghi

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The ECB's president warned divided euro zone leaders on Friday they risked "a relapse into recession" if they failed to press ahead with structural economic reforms, a message welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Rapid UK economic growth slows slightly in third-quarter

(Reuters) - Britain's rapid economic recovery eased in the three months to September, as services output growth slowed and manufacturing expanded at the weakest pace in 18 months, official data showed on Friday.

EU's Juncker pledges investment plan for jobs

(Reuters) - The incoming head of the EU executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, told the European Parliament on Wednesday that he would present his 300-billion-euro plan for investment to bolster growth and jobs by the end of this year.

ECB can use new banking knowledge in rate setting: Constancio

(Reuters) - European Central Bank policymakers will be able to use the information they gain from their new banking supervisory powers in the traditional monetary policy side of their jobs, ECB Vice President Vitor Constancio said on Monday.

Eurozone crisis, five years on: no happy ending in sight for Greek odyssey

Greece loves its epic tales and the greatest of them is the story of Odysseus, the hero who took 10 years to find his way back to Ithaca at the end of the Trojan War.

Getting used to the 'new mediocre'

Until a dramatic selloff, exuberant markets had raced well ahead of the economies that underpin them, partly because the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks flooded the financial system with new money.

OECD sees French reforms boosting GDP growth 0.3 percent points per year

(Reuters) - The OECD prodded France on Friday to step up the pace of its reforms, though it estimated that those already in the pipeline would gradually deliver tangible economic growth gains.

Borrowing costs jump for fragile euro zone states

LONDON (Reuters) - Borrowing costs for some of the euro zone's most highly indebted southern states shot higher on Thursday, as fears of slowing economic growth wounded confidence that the European Central Bank could avert another debt crisis in the bloc.

ECB eyes extra funding for Greek banks as Athens markets plunge

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank will loosen its terms for accepting security from Greek banks to allow them to tap more of its funding, offering the country's lenders support as stock and bond markets in Athens tumble.

Surprise inflation fall may put interest rate rise on hold

The prospects of an interest rate rise in the next few months have dimmed after inflation fell to a five-year low last month. Official figures showed inflation dropped to 1.2% in September from 1.5% in August as food and fuel prices fell.

Ireland to close ‘double Irish’ tax loophole

Apple and other multinationals based in Ireland are to be given a four-year window before the phasing out of a scheme that cuts their tax bills.

Greece to get 381 million euros from mobile phone spectrum sale

(Reuters) - Greece will raise 381 million euros from the sale of mobile phone frequencies to its biggest telecom operator OTE (OTEr.AT), Vodafone (VOD.L) and Wind Hellas, the minimum price set in the tender, its telecoms regulator said on Monday.

PM Valls urges Europe to respect France, and its budget

(Reuters) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Saturday that it is up to France to decide on its budget and that Paris should be treated with respect by its European partners.

IMF warns period of ultra-low interest rates poses fresh financial crisis threat

A prolonged period of ultra-low interest rates poses the threat of a fresh financial crisis by encouraging excessive risk taking on global markets, the International Monetary Fund has said.

Swiss deflation risk on radar screen for SNB: bank chairman

(Reuters) - Swiss National Bank (SNB) Chairman Thomas Jordan vowed on Friday to take whatever steps were necessary to fend off deflation in the face of a weak global economy, worsening euro zone outlook and falling commodities prices.

Hollande Falls Into Line as Merkel Fends Off EU Spending

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sidestepped French President Francois Hollande’s call to use stimulus measures to counter Europe’s faltering recovery, saying investments need to be carefully considered.

Greece, EU/IMF lenders to resume inspection after stress tests

(Reuters) - Greece's EU and IMF lenders are leaving Athens after the first round of talks on a crucial bailout review and will return after the results of European bank stress tests are announced, Greek officials said on Tuesday.

ECB's readiness to act again doesn't mean it should do so now: Weidmann

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank has moved toward a "quantitative easing philosophy" but should not automatically use its remaining policy tools right away, Governing Council member Jens Weidmann said.

Bank of England proposes savings protection limit of £1m

Savings of up to £1m in collapsed banks are to be protected under new proposals from the Bank of England intended to avoid a Northern Rock-style run on a financial institution.

France produces 'no austerity' budget, defying EU rules

PARIS: France intensified a showdown with its European Union partners Wednesday by unveiling a "no austerity" budget that aims to bring its deficit within European guidelines two years later than previously promised.

German Bonds Advance a Third Week as Euro-Area Inflation Slows

German 10-year bonds climbed for a third week as a report showed inflation slowed to a five-year low in the euro area, boosting bets the European Central Bank will take more steps to revive the region’s economy.

Poll: Poland seen cutting rates by 25 bps in October

(Reuters) - Poland is likely to cut interest rates by 25 basis points next week to a new all-time low and reduce them by a further 50 points by the end of the first quarter of 2015, according to a Reuters poll.

Bank of England to unveil bank leverage ratio plans this month

(Reuters) - The Bank of England will tell lenders at the end of this month what their key measure of insulation against future crises should be, bringing forward a keenly-awaited announcement from 2015 after draft proposals worried banks and lawmakers.

Italians evade 91 billion euros of taxes per year, economy minister says

(Reuters) - Tax evasion in Italy costs the country around 91 billion euros ($114.75 billion) every year, equal to about six percent of national output, the economy ministry said on Wednesday.

Eurozone inflation slows to five-year low in September

Eurozone inflation slipped again in September, with prices rising at their slowest rate in nearly five years.