Rebound in euro zone credit ratings: overdue or overshoot?

(Reuters) - Rating agencies are falling over each other to upgrade the euro zone's crisis countries, but with debt levels in most still rising and growth and reforms slow, the question is whether the new-found optimism has swung too far.

Britain's economic prospects brightest in more than a decade, survey finds

Britain's economic prospects are the brightest they have been in more than a decade and optimism among consumers has surged to its best level in nine years, according to separate reports published on Friday.

Asian shares at one-year high, bonds fly high on ECB hopes

(Reuters) - Global shares flirted with an all-time peak on Thursday while the euro touched its weakest in more than two months on bets the European Central Bank would unveil new stimulus measures next week.

EU to place efficiency at heart of energy security plans

Brussels could propose tougher energy efficiency targets for member states by September, the EU’s energy chief Gunther Oettinger revealed today.

ECB goes on 300 million euro spending spree for bank watchdog

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank will spend 300 million euros ($410 million) this year and next in building an elite group to monitor top banks, with the lion's share spent on generous pay for many of its staff.