Disappearing euro zone inflation set to heighten ECB concerns

(Reuters) - Euro zone inflation dropped to a fresh five-year low in August, data showed on Friday, something likely to concern the European Central Bank but not force it into immediate policy action.

EU Bank Stress Tests Delayed to 2014 on Asset-Quality Review

The European Union’s top banking regulator delayed stress tests until 2014, allowing time for a European Central Bank-led probe into the quality of assets held by some lenders in the debt-laden bloc.

European banking union? Don't hold your breath

BRUSSELS: In June last year, European Union leaders made a great fanfare of committing to 'banking union', a three-step plan to shore up the region's 8,000 banks and prevent a repeat of the debt and financial crisis.

ECB's Asmussen Says Euro-Zone Periphery Still Challenged

A number of states in the euro zone's periphery are still suffering from weak economies and fiscal challenges, despite recent progress, Joerg Asmussen, executive board member of the European Central Bank, said in an interview with Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung published Wednesday.

Germany says further steps needed before banks tap ESM

(Reuters) - Handing bank oversight to the European Central Bank is not in itself sufficient to allow the euro zone's rescue fund to directly assist banks, Germany's Finance Minister said, warning he expected no such deal on supervision in 2012.

EFSF optimistic about German court verdict on ESM

MUMBAI: The European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) is optimistic about the impending verdict by the German court on a petition challenging the constitutional feasibility of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

German minister dismisses talk of Spain debt purchases

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble threw cold water Saturday on speculation that the eurozone's bailout fund will buy Spanish public debt.

Germany's Schaeuble wants bailout aid capped at 800 billion euros

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The euro zone should not commit more than 800 billion euros in rescue aid, and tapping that money should only be available when countries promise reforms, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Thursday.

German FinMin - EFSF urgently needs bond-buy powers

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Europe's rescue fund urgently needs to be empowered to buy bonds on the secondary market, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Thursday.