Global stock markets gain on China trade data; sterling up
NEW YORK (Reuters) – World stock markets edged up for a sixth straight session on Wednesday after upbeat trade data from China soothed worries about slower global growth, while the British pound rose to a two-week high against the dollar.
Bank of England points to 2015 rate rise, blurs guidance
LONDON (Reuters) – The Bank of England said on Wednesday British interest rates could start to rise from record lows in little more than a year as a rapid recovery brings the economy closer to operating at full steam.
Exclusive: EU executive sees personal savings used to plug long-term financing gap
LONDON (Reuters) – The savings of the European Union’s 500 million citizens could be used to fund long-term investments to boost the economy and help plug the gap left by banks since the financial crisis, an EU document says.
Exclusive: Drought could make Brazil lower 2014 fiscal goal – source
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A severe drought stretching Brazil’s finances by pushing up its energy bill could force the government to lower its primary budget surplus target this year, a senior official told Reuters.
Analysis: U.S. car sales slowdown triggers discount war
DETROIT (Reuters) – A one-two punch of bad weather and overproduction has ignited a price war among U.S. car dealers and manufacturers.
Apple, Time-Warner in talks over new Apple TV device: report
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Apple Inc is in talks with Time Warner Cable and other content partners for a faster TV set-top box with a new user-interface that could be revealed as soon as April, Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the matter as saying….
Morgan Stanley targets higher returns in investment management
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Morgan Stanley’s investment management unit is setting a goal of reaching $500 billion in assets and a 20 percent return-on-equity by 2016, the head of that business said on Wednesday.
U.S. budget deficit smaller than expected in January
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States posted a smaller budget deficit than expected in January, a sign that a stronger economy is helping government coffers through a rise in tax receipts.
Panama Canal sets one week deadline to clinch deal
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – The Panama Canal has set a target of no more than a week to reach a deal to jumpstart work on a multi-billion dollar expansion of the waterway amid a cost row, its administrator said on Wednesday.
French finmin: ‘nothing to fear’ ahead of review of country’s banks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – France’s finance minister said on Wednesday there was no reason to worry about an upcoming review of assets in French banks, an apparent bid to sooth concerns over the health of financial firms in the country.
