Euro zone turns from financial to political crisis

LONDON (MarketWatch) — A political crisis in Italy threatens fresh elections. The Portuguese government takes a hammering at the polls.Austria sees an upsurge in far-right and anti-euro parties. Germany drifts on without a government. Far-right parliamentarians are being arrested in Greece.

Russia services sector posts sluggish growth in September: PMI

MOSCOW: Growth in Russia's services sector slowed slightly in September as new business expanded only modestly and companies became more pessimistic about future orders, a business survey showed on Thursday.

Euro-Zone Business Activity, Retail Sales Rising

The euro zone's return to economic growth appears to be firming, with surveys of purchasing managers showing a sharp pickup in business activity and fresh numbers on retail sales indicating consumer spending is on the rise.

UK construction industry grows for fifth consecutive month

Britain's construction industry maintained its run of strong growth for the fifth month in September, according to the CIPS/Markit survey of purchasing managers in the sector.

Italy's octogenarian president may be called to rescue again

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's 88-year-old president, Giorgio Napolitano, is an unlikely hero, but this week marks the third time in two years that he may be called to the country's rescue.