May 26, 2011

Europe shares slip, constrained by euro zone woes

By Brian Gorman

LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - European shares edged lower on Thursday, giving up some gains from the previous session, and strategists said the market would remain rangebound until there was some sort of resolution to the euro zone debt crisis.

Banks rose, but several other companies, such as luxury fashion retailer Burberry (BRBY.L), fell on cautious outlook statements.

May 25, 2011

Vince Cable rebuked by No 10 as he stirs euro crisis

George Osborne was forced to intervene yesterday after Vince Cable warned that Greece would have to delay paying some of its debts.

By James Kirkup, and Andrew Porter

Downing Street quickly made it clear that the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary was not authorised to set out government policy on the eurozone crisis.

May 24, 2011

Greece Readies Crisis-Fighting Steps

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s Cabinet is set to endorse additional deficit cuts and asset sales, fending off speculation that the country is headed to a restructuring.

The cost to insure Greek debt against default rose to a record and the yield on its 10-year bonds increased to a euro- era high after Standard & Poor’s said May 20 it may cut Italy’s credit rating. That warning came hours after Fitch Ratings cut Greece three grades.

May 23, 2011

Deep in crisis, Portugal tries to transform

Melides, Portugal — A former physical education teacher, Manuel Araujo puts his energy to use now as mayor of this sleepy village in the Portuguese south, springing into action to aid a resident panicked by a snake in her house in the thick of night and marshalling town workers to help another local fend off a home invasion by stinging bees.

May 22, 2011

Euro Drops to Lowest Level in Seven Weeks Against Dollar Amid Greek Crisis

The euro dropped to a seven-week low versus the dollar as Greece moved closer to defaulting on its obligations, bolstering concern the region’s sovereign-debt crisis is worsening.

The yen reached its strongest level versus the euro since the Group of Seven nations intervened in March to curb its gains after a record earthquake. Greece’s debt rating was cut by Fitch Ratings. Spanish voters may defeat Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s Socialists, who have cut spending to fight the debt crisis, in regional elections Sunday, polls show.