China trying a policy twist to cut borrowing costs

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is looking for new ways to lower stubbornly high long-term borrowing costs and stop the fruits of its looser monetary policy being pumped into speculative plays instead of supporting its slowing economy, policy insiders say.

ECB deflation fears sparked QE launch

Fears of continued deflation in the euro zone spurred the European Central Bank's (ECB) Governing Council to launch its controversial quantitative easing program in January, minutes of the key policy meeting revealed.

Fed's Powell says alternative to Libor needed as soon as practical

(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve will accelerate its search for a substitute to the Libor benchmark interest rate to stave off what would be "a horrible mess" if the current system collapses with no alternative, Fed Governor Jerome Powell said on Thursday.

ECB says measures will push inflation up, but money-printing still possible

(Reuters) - A raft of policy measures introduced last month will help lift inflation and support bank lending but the European Central Bank stands ready to create money in future if required, President Mario Draghi said on Thursday.

Canada Inflation Hits Poloz Goal for First Time in 2 Yrs

Canada’s inflation rate quickened in April to reach the central bank’s target for the first time in two years, led by higher energy costs that Governor Stephen Poloz says he will disregard.

German government source said U.S. should normalize monetary policy

(Reuters) - Germany believes the United States should normalize its monetary policy and each country must ensure it can cope with such policy changes, a senior German government source said ahead of a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers.

EBRD cuts Turkey outlook, but sees improving euro zone steadying region

(Reuters) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development cut its economic growth projections for Turkey on Tuesday but otherwise barely trimmed its overall view for its regional emerging markets.

Top Fed officials zero in on next policy steps

(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve, having just reduced its bond-buying program, now appears deep in debate over the best way to unwind its extraordinary stimulus in the months and years ahead.

Interest rates to remain at present or lower level: ECB's member Erkki Liikanen

HELSINKI: European Central Bank council member Erkki Liikanen reiterated on Friday that the bank is committed to keeping its interest rates low for a longer period of time.

Fed's decision not to cut stimulus 'prudent' - China's Xinhua

(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to delay reducing its massive monetary stimulus appears prudent, China's Xinhua news agency said on Thursday.

US Fed expected to announce stimulus slowdown

WASHINGTON: Many investors expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to announce a shift in course Wednesday and take its first step toward slowing the economic stimulus it has supplied since the financial crisis and the Great Recession swept through the economy five years ago.

Bank of Japan to hold policy, debate emerging market risks

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan may hold off on declaring the world's third-largest economy has cemented its recovery at a policy review this week as it waits to see the fallout on activity from slowing growth and capital outflows in emerging nations.

US hiring slows in July but jobless rate falls to 4-yr low

WASHINGTON: US employers slowed their pace of hiring in July but the jobless rate fell anyway, mixed signals that could make the U.S. Federal Reserve more cautious about drawing down its huge economic stimulus program.

Stocks drop back on mixed US jobs figures

LONDON (AP) — A mixed U.S. jobs report took the edge off global stock markets Friday as it raised questions over the pace of growth in the world's largest economy and when the U.S. Federal Reserve will start reducing its monetary stimulus.

A year on, Mario Draghi's 'save the euro' pledge remains untested

FRANKFURT: A year after Mario Draghi vowed to do "whatever it takes" to save the euro, the European Central Bank president can claim to have staved off disaster - but he may have to back up his words with action before long.

Canada rate hike views pushed back as economy struggles: Reuters poll

TORONTO (Reuters) - Half of Canada's primary dealers have recently pushed back forecasts for the timing of the central bank's next interest rate hike, a Reuters poll showed on Friday after weak jobs and housing starts data suggested the economy will struggle in 2013.

Markets firm despite ongoing US budget concerns

LONDON (AP) — Stock markets rose on Tuesday as investors hoped U.S. leaders would eventually thrash out a budget deal needed to keep a slew of tax increases and spending cuts from hitting the world's largest economy.

Bank of Canada sticks to rate-hike message

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada doggedly stuck to the message on Wednesday that it may have to raise interest rates despite a global slowdown, predicting the domestic economy would gain momentum this year and next and inflation return to target within a year.

Global shares retreat on growth, euro zone woes

LONDON (Reuters) - Global stock, bond and commodity markets saw investors selling riskier assets on Friday, as they scaled back expectations of strong stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve and fretted about the euro zone's debt troubles and widespread economic weakness.

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.