UK economy grew 0.7 per cent in Q2

LONDON: Britain's economy grew 0.7 percent in the second quarter from the previous three months, in line with forecasts, official data confirmed on Thursday.

German consumer morale hits highest level in 6 years: GfK

BERLIN: German consumer confidence rose to its highest level in six years heading into October, supporting expectations strong consumer spending will help Europe's largest economy to post moderate growth in 2013.

Euro-Area Services Strengthen as Demand Improves

Euro-area services growth accelerated to the fastest in more than two years in September as demand and confidence improved. An index of activity rose to 52.1 from 50.7 in August, London-based Markit Economics said today.

Deep Thoughts by Alexander Mirtchev

Ashby Monk

For a variety of reasons, SWF employees are typically quite reserved and guarded when speaking to the press. Not so for Dr. Alexander Mirtchev, who is the Independent Director and a member of the Board of Directors of Kazakhstan’s $30 billion National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna.

Alexander Mirtchev

EU to change budget calculation to ease austerity

BRUSSELS: European Union finance experts have reached a preliminary agreement on changing the way the bloc determines some deficit figures, which will lessen the pressure for austerity measures in some crisis-hit economies, an EU official said Thursday.