Italy asks EU to exclude infrastructure projects from deficits: minister

(Reuters) - Italy is asking the European Union to exclude spending on infrastructure projects from the calculation of national budget deficits, Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi was quoted as saying in Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Yen Weakens on Reduced Haven Bid; Euro Near 2014 Nadir

The yen fell versus the euro as demand for havens deteriorated. The euro was about 0.3 percent from this year’s low versus the dollar after Germany’s economy contracted last quarter and France’s stagnated.

U.S. business spending data gives mixed signals on growth

(Reuters) - A mixed reading on the health of U.S. business investment on Friday suggested the economy may not have rebounded as strongly in the second quarter as previously believed, but it offered hope for the rest of 2014.

Bundesbank sees German economy stagnating in second quarter

(Reuters) - The German economy probably stagnated in the second quarter in the face of political tensions abroad, the Bundesbank said on Monday, but chances are its recovery will not be held up for long by conflicts on the rim of Europe.

Canada First-Quarter Growth Slows as Harsh Winter Bites

Canada’s economic growth slumped in the first quarter as a harsh winter in North America slowed housing construction, business spending and exports.

UK's economy grew 1 percent in three months to April - NIESR

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's economy grew by 1.0 percent in the three months to April, its fastest pace since June 2010, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research estimated on Friday.

Australia central bank seen on hold even as tough budget looms

(Reuters) - Australia's central bank is almost certain to maintain a neutral policy bias this week with a batch of data likely to point to an economy that is picking up speed, uncomfortable reading for a government preparing voters for a tough federal budget.

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.

Obama budget plan claims $5.3 trillion in deficit reduction

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's fiscal 2015 budget aims to keep alive hopes for major deficit reduction by claiming that proposed tax hikes and spending proposals, coupled with previous actions, will lead to $5.3 trillion in budget savings over 10 years.

U.S. GDP revised down, but hints of economic thaw emerge

(Reuters) - The U.S. government slashed its estimate for fourth-quarter economic growth on Friday in the latest sign of a loss of momentum, but some tentative signs emerged that suggested the worst of the slowdown may be over.

Yen Weakness in Foreigners’ Hands Leaves Abe Exposed: Currencies

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is entirely dependent on foreigners to deliver the weaker yen that’s the linchpin of his economic policies.

Italian Economy Registers First Quarterly Growth Since 2011

Italy’s economy expanded in the three months through December, marking the first quarterly gain in more than two years as the country began to recover from its longest recession on record.

Fed's Rosengren would have waited until March to taper

(Reuters) - The lone dissenter this week on the Federal Reserve's landmark decision to begin to pare its massive bond-buying program said he would have preferred to wait until March to be sure the recovery is on firm footing.

Faster Pace of Growth May Not Last Long

Stoked by rising inventories, the American economy grew at a significantly faster pace in the third quarter than first estimated, but probably at the expense of economic activity during the current quarter as businesses work off some of the excess stock on their shelves and in warehouses.

Osborne RBS Decision Seen Weighing on Legacy as U.K. Chancellor

George Osborne is about to take a decision that will help determine his legacy. While the fastest growth since 2010 is boosting voter confidence in his stewardship of the U.K. economy, his ruling on the future of Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc may yet mar that achievement.

Ireland officially exits recession

The recession in Ireland has officially ended.After a downturn hit the country at the end of last year and the first few months of this year, the widest measure of the economy has now revealed a slight upturn.

Swiss economy powers ahead in second quarter

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's economy grew by a robust and better-than-expected 0.5 percent in the second quarter, data showed on Tuesday, driven by private consumption and spending on machinery.

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.

France confirms to cut spending for first time since 1958

PARIS: French government spending will fall next year for the first time since 1958, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Tuesday, as the country begins shifting the austerity effort away from tax hikes.

Japan Risks Yield Jump Undermining BOJ Easing, Fiscal Panel Says

A Japanese government fiscal advisory panel warned that a failure to improve the nation’s finances could trigger a spike in bond yields that makes central bank easing less effective.