Fed lifts global stocks, dollar; euro near 1999 starting point
LONDON (Reuters) – The dollar hit a nine-year high and stocks worldwide headed for their first back-to-back rise of the year on Thursday, encouraged by expectations for a U.S. rate increase and new stimulus this month from the European Central Bank.
China’s Xi woos Latin America with $250 billion investments
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Thursday $250 billion in investment in Latin America over the next 10 years as part of a drive to boost resource-hungry China’s influence in a region long dominated by the United States.
Samsung Electronics tips first annual profit fall in three years
SEOUL (Reuters) – Global smartphone leader Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Thursday confirmed expectations for its first annual profit decline since 2011, although a pickup in the fourth quarter hinted that earnings may have stabilized in the short term….
ECB warns Greek funding access hinges on keeping bailout
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek banks’ access to European Central Bank funding beyond February will depend on Athens successfully completing a final bailout review and reaching a deal on a follow-up plan with its EU/IMF lenders, the ECB said on Thursday.
New York City pension funds moved $4.9 billion out of Pimco in 2014
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York City’s pension funds last year pulled $4.9 billion from asset manager Pimco, the latest big investor to yank money from Pimco after the acrimonious exit of the firm’s top bond investor, Bill Gross, in September
Credit Suisse says Milan offices searched by Italian tax police
ZURICH/MILAN (Reuters) – Credit Suisse said its offices in Milan were searched by Italian tax police last month, following media reports of an investigation into whether a Bermuda subsidiary of the bank helped wealthy Italians hide undeclared funds.
Euro zone December sentiment unchanged, November producer prices fall
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Euro zone economic sentiment was unchanged in December against the previous two months, data showed on Thursday, as a more upbeat end-of-year mood in the services and retail sectors and among consumers was offset by a gloomier indu…
Credit Suisse says Milan offices searched by Italian tax police
ZURICH/MILAN (Reuters) – Credit Suisse said its offices in Milan were searched by Italian tax police last month, following media reports of an investigation into whether a Bermuda subsidiary of the bank helped wealthy Italians hide undeclared funds.
Fed looks past a world in turmoil, confident in U.S. recovery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. central bankers have looked beyond a global deflation threat, fear of energy-sector bond defaults, and a surge of oil patch layoffs to reach what appears to be a firm conclusion: the U.S. recovery is here to stay.
Wall Street up more than 1 percent, boosted by jobs data, Fed
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks rebounded on Wednesday from five straight sessions of losses after strong private sector jobs data and as minutes from the most recent Federal Reserve meeting reassured investors the bank was in no hurry to start raisin…




