Economic News

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - The Group of Seven nations said the global economy remains strong despite a US slowdown but warned that volatile energy prices, inflation and trade protectionism pose risks. "In our economies, performance remains strong amid moderating growth in the United States," the G7 ministers said in a statement following a meeting in Singapore today. They said growth in th ...

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - The European Central Bank remains in a position of "strong vigilance" on inflation, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said Speaking after the meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bankers, Trichet told reporters: "We are in a position of strong vigilance (on inflation)." The ECB President added that there were no signs of second round inflation ef ...

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - The global economy remains strong despite a US slowdown as Europe picks up and Japan recovers from its long slump, although volatile energy prices, inflation and trade protectionism pose risks, G7 finance ministers said. "In our economies, performance remains strong amid moderating growth in the United States," the G7 ministers said in a statement. Growth in the  ...

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - The International Monetary Fund said it has upgraded its outlook for Asian economic growth but warned that risks -- slower US growth and high oil prices -- are more to the downside than previously thought. The IMF also said while some countries could ease monetary conditions, China and India should tighten credit to prevent their red-hot economies from plunging into a boom- ...

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors discussed the Chinese yuan during their meetings but in the context of the need for flexibility, not on what its value should be, Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said. Asked by reporters about the yuan's value after the meeting, Tanigaki said "Our discussion has been focused more on the flexibility ...

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - The global economy remains strong despite a US slowdown as Europe picks up and Japan recovers from its long slump, although volatile energy prices, inflation and trade protectionism pose risks, G7 finance ministers said. "In our economies, performance remains strong amid moderating growth in the United States," the G7 ministers said in a statement. Growth in the  ...

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - Top world finance chiefs gather today to grapple with simmering inflation, slowing US growth, terrorism financing and the lopsided global economy. China, although not a member of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, is nonetheless expected to loom large, with the ministers and central bankers likely to press Beijing -- either directly or indirectly -- to further ease  ...

NEW YORK (AFX) - U.S. Treasury bond prices were little changed Friday, with shorter-dated bonds slightly lower as investors adjusted their positions ahead of the weekend. At 5 p.m. EDT, the 10-year Treasury note was down 1/32 from late Thursday. Its yield, which moves in the opposite direction, was virtually unchanged at 4.79 percent. The 30-year bond was up 1/32. Its yield fell to 4.91 percent  ...

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) - The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee is expected to vote to keep rates steady at 5.25% next Wednesday, lengthening their "pause" in August into a full-fledged holding pattern, economists said. Many Fed watchers see monetary policy remaining steady for the next three months at least, with a chance of another rate hike in December. But this is by no means a certainty ...

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Inflation slowed last month as Americans finally got a break at the gas pump, lifting consumers' spirits and easing fears the country could stumble into recession. The Labor Department reported Friday that consumer prices rose just 0.2 percent in August, half the gain in July. With oil prices falling in September, economists predicted more good news ahead on inflat ...