U.S. Economy Barely Grew in First Quarter

The American economy slowed drastically in the first quarter of 2014, as wintry weather depressed corporate spending and housing sector activity, while smaller additions to inventories by farmers and businesses also held back growth.

Canadian Consumer Confidence Reaches Almost 4-Year High

Canadian consumer confidence was the highest in almost four years last week as sentiment about the job market improved and the real-estate outlook remained strong.

Fed, with bond taper on autopilot, free to tackle big questions

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policymakers this week are set to continue paring their massive bond-buying stimulus, but below the smooth surface of a likely unanimous vote lies a deeply divided Fed struggling to lay the groundwork for more difficult decisions ahead.

South Africa c'act gap risk to financial system stability - cbank

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's current account deficit, while shrinking, presents a marked risk to the stability of the country's financial system, the Reserve Bank said on Thursday.

Japan's Suga: Not sure if Japan, U.S. can agree on trade

(Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said on Friday that he is not sure whether Japan and the United States can reach an agreement in bilateral trade talks needed to push forward with the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, unless Japan's position is accepted.

Bank of England raises UK growth forecast

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has increased its UK economic growth forecast for the first quarter of the year, from 0.9% to 1%. Minutes from the latest MPC meeting showed the revised estimate.

Arab banks see Middle East opportunities as some global banks scale back

(Reuters) - Big Arab banks with money to spend are expanding across the Middle East in markets such as Egypt and Iraq, as they take advantage of a retreat from some areas by major international rivals, senior Arab bankers say.

IMF Ukraine Aid Report Said Ready for Board Review Within Days

The International Monetary Fund’s executive board will receive within days a staff report detailing Ukraine’s proposed loan program, in an effort to approve emergency financing by early May, a board official said.

Americans still don't trust the stock market

More than five years after the financial crisis, the average American is still wary of the stock market, according to a survey released Monday.

Spanish banks face tough rivalry in small companies bet

MADRID (Reuters) - Across Spain, the message is hard to miss in office windows showcasing offers: banks want to lend to small companies again.

Jobless claims, factory data put some shine on economy

(Reuters) - New claims for jobless benefits hovered near their pre-recession levels last week and manufacturing in the Mid-Atlantic region accelerated in April, suggesting an upswing in economic activity after a brutally cold winter.

£15 per hour for Swiss workers: Referendum on plans to introduce the world’s highest minimum wage has employers worried

Jasmin Eicher has already axed her only full-time employee to keep her shop afloat, which sells cards, candles and paper in a Zurich suburb.

Latin America's growth prospects fizzle on local concerns

(Reuters) - The next two years look more challenging for Latin American economies than previously thought, with prospects for slower growth and higher inflation defying recent market optimism about emerging markets.

US tells China it must allow its currency to strengthen

The US has told China its currency must be allowed to rise if it and the global economy are to see stable growth.

Fed’s Stein: Financial Stability Fits Within Central Bank’s Dual Mandate

The Federal Reserve doesn’t need to expand its focus from its dual mandate to take financial-stability concerns into account, Fed governor Jeremy Stein said Sunday.

US retail sales see biggest gain in 18 months

US retail sales saw their biggest gain in 18 months in March, according to official figures. It is a further sign that the economy is shrugging off the effects of the third-coldest winter on record, which affected economic activity.

EU to approve bank rules before May election slows legislative machine

(Reuters) - The European Union will sign off on a slew of major reforms this week to allow failing banks to be wound down without public money, clearing its desk before elections in May that may lead to a slower pace of legislation.

IMF Warns Over Stimulus Dependence, U.S. Financial Stability Risks

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The International Monetary Fund urged nations to move beyond their dependence on stimulus programs and warned of financial stability risks, as investors look to the release of Federal Reserve minutes Wednesday for clues on central bank decision-making.

Bank of Canada's Poloz eyeing global deflationary risk

(Reuters) - Policymakers are closely watching the risk of deflation in several advanced economies but they are encouraged by signs of a continuing improvements in the economic outlook, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said on Friday.

Britain's property market posts highest sales level in more than six years

Britain's property market recorded the highest level of sales in more six years over the first three months of this year – but the surge came with a health warning from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).

IMF warns Europe's banking system poses threat to global financial stability

The eurozone's creaking banking system poses a serious threat to global financial stability, according to the International Monetary Fund, which warned European leaders to accelerate plans to support weak banks and create a banking union.

Sweden raises 2014 growth forecast in spring budget, last before vote

(Reuters) - Sweden's economy will grow at a faster pace than previously expected this year the government said on Wednesday in a spring budget that promised prudence rather than new spending measures ahead of an election in September.

Carney’s Policy Autopilot Gives Time for McKinsey Revamp

Mark Carney picked a good time to implement sweeping changes at the Bank of England.

Germany says trusts France will stick to EU stability pact

(Reuters) - The German government is confident France will respect the terms of the European Union's Stability and Growth Pact even after Paris indicated it would seek to renegotiate its deficit-reduction deadline with the European Commission, a government spokesman said on Friday.

Conservatives should scrap inheritance tax outright, thinktank suggests

The Conservative party would be better off scrapping inheritance tax altogether rather than increasing the threshold to £1m, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has suggested.

US economy adds 192,000 jobs in March

The US added 192,000 new jobs in March, in line with expectations, as the unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%.

ECB keeps interest rates on hold at 0.25%

The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept its benchmark interest rate at a record low of 0.25%. It comes despite the fact that inflation in the currency bloc fell to a five year low in March.

Eurozone approves next Greece bailout payment

Eurozone ministers have signed off the next 8.3bn euro (£6.8bn; $11.4bn) instalment of Greece's bailout.

Tapering hits Aberdeen as outflows jump in Q1

The US Federal Reserve decision to taper its bond- buying programme in December has continued to weigh on Aberdeen Asset Management during the first quarter of the year, new figures show.

IMF still sees advantage for 'too important to fail' banks

(Reuters) - Top banks in the euro zone benefited from an implicit taxpayer subsidy of $90 billion to $300 billion in 2012 due to ongoing state support which makes them "too important to fail," the International Monetary Fund said in a report on Monday.