RBS shares jump as bank’s bad debts improve

Royal Bank of Scotland is erasing £800m of bad debt provisions because of a dramatic improvement in its Irish operations and other troublesome areas of its business.

U.S. consumer sentiment dips in preliminary July reading

(Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment dipped in early July while an index of consumer expectations weakened for a third straight month, a survey released on Friday showed.

U.S. small business, jobs data bolster growth picture

(Reuters) - The U.S. economy has decisively turned the corner with small business confidence hitting its highest level in more than 6-1/2 years in May and the number of jobs available rising to pre-recession levels in April.

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.

India raises interest rates for the second month running

India's new central bank governor has raised interest rates for the second consecutive month by a quarter of one percent to 7.75% to try to fight inflation.

Improving economy gives ECB breathing space on rates

FRANKFURT: An apparent improvement in the eurozone economy will allow the European Central Bank to hold its fire on interest rates for the time being at its meeting this week, analysts said.

Bank of England expected to put QE plans on hold as inflation fears loom

The Bank of England is expected to freeze its £325bn stimulus programme, signalling it is more concerned about high inflation than Britain's return to recession.