Abe Says Japan’s Door Open to China Talks Amid Island Dispute

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would keep the door open to dialogue with China amid a lull in incursions by official Chinese ships into Japanese-controlled waters around a group of disputed islands.

Osborne Increases BOE Home-Plan Checks as Bubble Fears Rise

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will introduce annual checks with the Bank of England over his Help-to-Buy program as he responds to mounting concerns that the plan may fuel excessive house-price increases.

Economy in U.S. Expanded at a 2.5% Annual Rate Last Quarter

The economy expanded at faster pace in the second quarter from the previous three months, a sign the U.S. was weathering federal budget cutbacks and higher taxes.

Loans to eurozone businesses drop sharply: ECB

Lending to businesses in the debt-mired eurozone contracted sharply in August, data published by the European Central Bank showed on Thursday, souring recent positive sentiment about a nascent economic recovery.

US Treasury warns Congress of October deadline on debt ceiling

Treasury secretary Jacob Lew said Wednesday the government will have exhausted its borrowing authority by 17 October, leaving the United States just $30bn cash on hand to pay its bills.

Monte Paschi delays approval of new rescue plan

(Reuters) - The board of Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI), Italy's third biggest lender, delayed approval on Tuesday of a restructuring plan aimed at winning European Union approval for a 4.1 billion-euro ($5.5 billion) state bailout and averting nationalization.

European insurers wake up to cyber protection market

It's already a booming market in the United States, but in Europe, companies are also waking up to the idea of cyber insurance to protect themselves against Internet attack.

Canada Dollar Falls for Second Day Amid Renewal of Taper Bets

Canada’s dollar fell for a second day as traders started to price in a reduction in monetary stimulus after the U.S. Federal Reserve surprised markets this week by maintaining its $85 billion in monthly bond buying.

Fed need not rush to taper while inflation is low: Bullard

(Reuters) - Low readings on inflation allow the U.S. Federal Reserve to be patient in deciding when to scale back its pace of asset purchases, a senior Fed official said on Friday, cautioning that he would not back action until price pressures picked up.

Deep Thoughts by Alexander Mirtchev

Ashby Monk

For a variety of reasons, SWF employees are typically quite reserved and guarded when speaking to the press. Not so for Dr. Alexander Mirtchev, who is the Independent Director and a member of the Board of Directors of Kazakhstan’s $30 billion National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna.

 

Alexander Mirtchev

The G-20: From unreal to surreal

Before we go more deeply into the Syrian swamp, a few comments on the recent G-20 summit.

Japan land prices fall at slowest pace in five years as deflation eases

(Reuters) - Japan's land prices fell the least since the global financial crisis in the year to July 1, while commercial land in the three biggest cities rose in value for the first time in the same period, the latest signs that deflation is easing its stubborn grip on the country.

Fed's dovish turn leaves Wall Street economists mulling taper timing: poll

(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's surprise move on Wednesday to postpone the start of the wind down of its monetary stimulus of the U.S. economy has left Wall Street economists puzzled about the central bank's next move.

Analysis: Europe, waiting for Germany, could be disappointed

(Reuters) - European policymakers have higher hopes than expectations of change in German policies after a general election next Sunday that has kept much European business on hold for months.

Bank of England must limit house price booms, says Rics

The Bank of England should use its powers to limit house price increases to 5% a year to "take the froth out" of price booms, a surveyors' group says.

Is Federal Reserve ready to begin the great taper? Markets say yes

Is the Federal Reserve ready to put the Great Recession behind it? Is the US economy prepared for it?

The EY G20 Entrepreneurship Barometer

Today’s entrepreneurs play a unique role in spurring growth, creating jobs and acting as change agents in the countries where they do business.

US retail sales growth slower than expected in August

US retail sales grew at a slower-than-expected rate in August, despite increased demand for high-priced, one-off items such as cars.

Growth in G20 countries accelerates: OECD

Growth in the Group of 20 emerging and advanced economies accelerated in the second quarter of this year to 0.9 percent from 0.6 percent in the previous three month period, the OECD said Thursday.

IMF chief says bank union needs to be completed quickly

(Reuters) - International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde urged euro zone governments on Tuesday to make quick progress on their proposed banking union, to put the bloc's crisis definitively behind it.

US Federal Reserve wants yet another tool in its swelled policy kit

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve is developing yet another tool to help it keep borrowing costs on target when the era of zero-interest rates eventually ends, suggesting policymakers may doubt their existing ways and means can handle the task on their own.

Russia to Brazil Intervention Adds to U.S. Debt Distress

Investors suffering the worst losses in Treasuries since at least 1978 can add dollar sales by emerging-market central banks to their list of challenges.

Did the G20 fail?

DUSSELDORF, Germany, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Group of 20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, should have secured three achievements, which had been thoroughly discussed by officials in advance and which had nothing to do with Syria.

G20 Summit: Syria, World Economy Discussed

The Group of 20, a group of countries developed and emerging whose populations comprise two out of three people on Earth, saw their world leaders gather in St. Petersburg over the last two days.

G20 to say economy recovering, crisis not yet overcome: Russia

RUSSIA: The Group of 20 will say in its summit communique that the global economy is improving but it is too early to declare an end to crisis, a Russian official involved in its drafting said on Friday.

Pace of US manufacturing hit 2-year peak in August

WASHINGTON: US factories expanded last month at the fastest pace since June 2011 on a jump in orders. The report signals that manufacturing output could strengthen in coming months.

Global factory activity highest since June 2011 - PMI

LONDON: Global manufacturing activity grew at its fastest pace in over two years in August as new orders flooded in at a rate not seen since February 2011, a report showed on Tuesday.

Obama seeks support for Syria strike at G-20

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing roadblocks at home and abroad, President Barack Obama this week plans to urge reluctant world leaders to back an American-led strike against Syria even though the prospects for military action depend on the votes of a fractured U.S. Congress.

Will G-20 Counter Power of Uncertainty?

By Alexander Mirtchev 

In 2009, G-20 leaders met in Pittsburgh and emerged with a mandate ‘to be the premier forum for international economic cooperation,' endowing the G-20 with a leading economic role on the global stage. It appeared at the time that the leaders of the G-20 had successfully defeated pessimism. However, the rising tide of global economic turmoil and problems ranging from sovereign indebtedness to consumption and saving imbalances have created a ‘perfect storm' that is far from abating.

Rupee Continues Decline on Weakness in Indian Economy

MUMBAI — The Indian rupee began slipping lower in currency markets again on Monday after a two-day respite, as further signs emerged of broad troubles in the Indian economy.

Economic worry shifts to emerging markets at Russian G20

MOSCOW: Long hailed as the hungry new tigers of the global economy, the world's biggest emerging markets will be the chief economic focus at the G20 summit in Russia this week as their once surging prospects suddenly dim.

British Chambers of Commerce: Recovery gaining momentum

The British Chambers of Commerce has sharply upped its 2013 growth forecast, saying the economy is gaining momentum.