German business lobby group calls EU sanctions a mistake

(Reuters) - The European Union's new economic sanctions against Russia are a "mistake" because they were imposed just as a week-old ceasefire was bringing calm to the embattled east of Ukraine, the leader of a German business lobby group was quoted saying on Sunday.

Euro zone ministers upset by broken French budget promises

MILAN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - France faced harsh criticism on Friday for failing to meet a deadline to put its finances in order, as frustrated euro zone ministers struggled to keep alive their post-crisis strategy for the bloc's stagnating economy.

S&P raises Greece by one notch in latest ratings boost

(Reuters) - Standard & Poor's raised Greece's credit rating by one notch on Friday, the latest ratings boost for the debt-laden country, and said it expected Athens to continue reporting budget surpluses before interest payments in the next few years.

ECB Seeks to Ease Euro-Area Capital Barriers for Lending

Europe’s efforts to boost lending and reduce financial fragmentation won’t succeed unless banks can move money freely between countries, European Central Bank policy makers said this week.

Housing market reaches plateau, say surveyors

The housing market has reached a "plateau", according to a survey of chartered surveyors across the UK. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said the number of house sales agreed in August fell for the first time in two years.