Myanmar says it will put stability ahead of economy: report

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Myanmar President Thein Sein said his government was committed to political reform and would put the stability of the country ahead of economic development, Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Spain unemployment total passes five million

Madrid, Spain (TOE) - Spain’s unemployment total has passed the five million mark, the highest in 15 years, with the jobless rate shooting up from 21.5% to 22.8%., data from the statistical office INE showed Friday.

First-time unemployment claims climb

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- After plunging the week before, first-time claims for unemployment benefits ticked up last week.

How to Protect Canada from the Next Big Financial Shock: C.D. Howe Institute

TORONTO , Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada should improve its oversight of financial stability in the economy with a watchdog committee co-chaired by the Bank of Canada and Finance Canada , according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute.

Economy to be Front and Center in Obama's Speech

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- President Barack Obama plans to stress the importance of improving confidence in the U.S. economy in his State of the Union address later Tuesday, according to excerpt of the speech released to media outlets.

Financial Stability Tops List of Insurers’ Concerns: Geneva Association

A newly published study from insurance think tank the Geneva Association analyzes the principle concerns facing the industry in 2012.

Sweden Should Set Up Financial Stability Committee-Research Body

STOCKHOLM -(Dow Jones)- Sweden should establish a new committee based at its central bank with responsibility for the country's financial stability, a Swedish research body said in a report Thursday.

European central banks to book few losses from Lehman collapse

FRANKFURT: European central banks will book hardly any losses from the default of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers four years ago, Germany's Bundesbank said on Thursday.

Global Demand for U.S. Financial Assets Rises on Europe

Jan. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Global demand for U.S. financial assets rose more than forecast in November, boosted by investors seeking shelter from the European debt crisis.

Banks find ways to recoup revenue lost to new rules

In the past two years, major U.S. banks have been hit with a trifecta of new regulations costing them billions of dollars in lost revenue.

EFSF Loses AAA Rating After S&P Downgrades France, Austria

Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) -- The European Financial Stability Facility lost its top credit rating at Standard & Poor’s after the rating company downgraded France and Austria.

Europe must move quickly after downgrades: Merkel

(Reuters) - Ratings downgrades in the euro zone by S&P underline why Europe must seal a pact to tighten fiscal rules quickly and get its permanent bailout fund up and running as soon as possible, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday.

Obama requests another $1.2 trillion to pay US costs

President Barack Obama has formally notified Congress of proposals for a $1.2 trillion (£782bn) rise in borrowing, risking another battle with Republicans.

Loan restructuring to cast shadow over banks' Q3 nos

KOLKATA: Debt restructuring will overshadow the bad loans problems in the December quarter earnings release from banks as it may touch Rs 50,300 crore with a potential to double in the next year as utilities and steel companies fail to execute projects.

Gold eases on firm dollar, euro zone fear

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Gold prices lost more than half a percent on Monday, after the momentum that pushed prices up 3 percent last week fizzled as the dollar firmed with growing worries about the euro zone debt crisis.

Germany and France say debt talks advancing

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy pushed Monday to speed up Europe's efforts to control the two-year governmental debt crisis.

Money Funds Could Face More Changes

AS Europe was lurching from crisis to crisis in late October, a Norwegian lender — a $40 billion bank with a strong credit rating, four blue-chip owners and a 50-year track record — abruptly stumbled.First, Norway’s regulators turned down the bank’s request that they waive a new rule requiring it to have a more diverse portfolio.

Swiss Bank Chief Vows Not to Resign Over Currency Trades

FRANKFURT — Philipp M. Hildebrand, head of the Swiss central bank, said Thursday that he regretted currency trades that have threatened his international reputation as an advocate for tougher bank regulation, but he maintained that he had violated no laws or regulations and would not resign.

Unicredit shares fall on rights issue concerns

Italian bank Unicredit fell sharply on the Milan stock exchange after it announced the details of a 7.5bn euro ($9.8bn; £6.3bn) sale of new shares.

Manufacturing activity, employment on the rise

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Manufacturing grew at a faster pace in December, according to a closely-watched reading on the health of the sector.

Hungary Banks, Treasury Fees, South Korea Banks, CDR Financial: Compliance

Hungary’s chances of obtaining a bailout receded after lawmakers approved new central bank regulations Dec. 30 that prompted the International Monetary Fund and the European Union to break off talks last month.

U.S. Employment Probably Picked Up in Dec.

Hiring probably accelerated in December for a second month, a sign an improving U.S. labor market will bolster consumer spending in early 2012, economists said before a report this week.

Greek, Italian Bonds Slide as Bunds Have Best Year Since 2008

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Greek and Italian government bonds had their worst years on record as Europe’s financial woes intensified, driving investors to sell securities of Europe’s most indebted nations.