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World stock markets fell Friday amid mounting concerns about the pace of the U.S. economic recovery following a disappointing earnings update from computer maker Dell Inc.
The euro pushed back up above $1.50 Monday after finance ministers from the Group of 20 rich and developing countries steered clear from addressing the weakness of the U.S. currency against most of its competitors at a meeting over the weekend.
Concerns worldwide about the dollar's slide have escalated to the point where currency traders are beginning to wonder when governments might try to do something about it.
World stock markets fell sharply Thursday as investor optimism was dented by a broker downgrade of U.S. bank Wells Fargo and concerns about future Chinese economic growth.
The International Monetary Fund is facing key political crunch points in its dealings across Eastern Europe even though it has done much to lose its previous reputation as an advocate of austerity.
The dollar slid to a 14-month low against the euro Wednesday as investor appetite for risk increased following upbeat comments from Intel Corp. and after a top Federal Reserve official indicated U.S. interest rates would likely remain low for a quite a while.
European stock markets rose modestly Friday after another strong finish on Wall Street, with more U.S. earnings reports expected to drive market sentiment later in the day.
The European Central Bank on Thursday left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low of 1 percent and indicated it wouldn't raise it in the near future — even as bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said the worst of the recession has passed.
The dollar fell Tuesday towards year lows against the euro and the yen after a report that Arab states and other countries were contemplating an end to the U.S. currency's role in the pricing oil.
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven rich countries warned the recovery remains "fragile" and tried to talk up the U.S. dollar amid fears it could fall farther and disrupt the global economy.
The World Bank needs to become more efficient in how it uses its resources and give more say to developing economies, several member states, including major donors the U.S. and Britain, said Monday.
The International Monetary Fund is considering how the world's banks can pay more to help insure the financial system from another crisis and possibly assist poorer countries in the battle against climate change.
The U.S economy will be growing again by year end, but tight credit conditions for consumers and businesses will hamper the recovery, the International Monetary Fund said Thursday as it raised its forecast for growth next year to 1.5 percent from 0.8 percent.
The International Monetary Fund said the global economy is recovering faster than expected — but that governments should not be hasty in withdrawing the added spending and low interest rates that have helped restore growth.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown signaled Wednesday at the U.N. General Assembly that he is prepared to scale back the country's Trident submarine nuclear deterrent as part of a "global bargain" to reduce the world's nuclear arsenal.
The recession's toll on British government finances was highlighted Friday by official figures showing the government borrowed a record 16.1 billion pounds ($26.3 billion) in August, just days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown conceded that whoever wins the next election will have to take an axe to spending.
Unemployment in Britain hit a near 13-year high in July despite signs that the deepest recession since World War II is coming to an end, official figures showed Wednesday.
Britain's Conservative Party, which holds a hefty lead over the governing Labour Party in the opinion polls, is looking at ways of selling off the British government's equity stakes in Lloyds Banking Group PLC and Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC to ordinary shareholders should it win the next general election, a spokesman for Conservatives said Monday.
Economic data gave more evidence Monday that Europe and Asia are on the mend, while a top Chinese leader cautioned against blind optimism and said the world economy still faced "many new difficulties."
Prices in the 16 countries that use the euro fell on an annual basis for the second straight month in July and by more than previously anticipated, official figures showed Friday.
World stock markets rose Thursday after Chinese shares bounced back with their biggest rally since March, a day after slumping nearly 5 percent.
Government programs to support the auto industry helped Germany and France return to economic growth in the second quarter, rebounds that stoked hopes the recession in the wider 16-country euro area may also end sooner than thought.
World stock markets shot higher Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said the world's largest economy appeared to be "leveling out" from its worst recession in decades.
The 16 countries that use the euro saw activity in services and manufacturing contract far less than expected in July, a closely-watched survey showed Friday, in another sign the European economy may be stabilizing after a steep drop earlier in the year.
The Bank of England kept its key interest rate on hold at a record low 0.5 percent Thursday and surprise markets by saying it would not for the moment seek to expand its 125 billion pound cash injection into the British economy.
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