Japan passes $142 billion stimulus budget

TOKYO:Japan's parliament on Tuesday passed a $142 billion extra budget that forms a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to tackle the deflation that has dogged the economy for years.

Sterling under pressure after Moody's cuts UK's AAA rating

The pound came under pressure on Monday as currency traders reacted to the UK's loss of its top AAA credit rating. Having fallen to a two-and-a-half year low against the dollar and a 16-month low against the euro, sterling ended the day little changed. Longer-term, analysts expect the fall in value of the pound to continue.

ECB: Nearly half of bond holdings from Italy

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank says Italian government bonds account for nearly half of its total holdings under a now discontinued bond-buying program launched in 2010 to ease the eurozone's debt crisis.

Obama administration warns of impact of broad budget cut

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is painting a dire portrait of widespread flight delays, off-limit seashores, and unprotected parks among the many ways the public will feel the effects of automatic federal spending cuts due to begin March 1.

Italy center-left ally says EU must loosen budget rules

ROME (Reuters) - A leading member of Italy's center-left coalition, frontrunner in polls for this weekend's election, said on Thursday the country should seek revisions of European Union budget rules.