China announces rule changes to jump-start Shanghai zone investment

BEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China has introduced a fresh round of regulatory changes in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone in a bid to jump-start interest in the district, which has been struggling to attract more overseas companies, a government website said on Sunday.

Australia Sees IPO of Largest Health Insurer Tempting Investors

Australia sees strong investor interest in the initial public offering of Medibank Private Ltd., the country’s largest health insurer, as the government presses on with sales of state assets to cut a budget deficit.

Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Rose in September to 14-Month High

Consumer confidence climbed in September to a 14-month high as Americans’ outlooks for the economy improved.

Russia Risks Recession as Oil Drop Seen Squeezing Budget

The easing of tensions in Ukraine will offer little respite to Russia as the lowest oil prices in more than two years threaten to tilt the $2 trillion economy toward recession, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts.

Consumer Comfort in U.S. Falls to Lowest Since Early June

Consumer confidence fell last week to an almost four-month low as Americans’ views of the economy and their finances deteriorated.

Bank of Spain says domestic demand surge likely to slow in third quarter

(Reuters) - Growth in private consumption and new job creation, fundamental factors in the turnaround in Spain's crisis-torn economy, are showing signs of slowing in the third quarter, the country's central bank said on Wednesday.

Bank of England deputy calls for US co-operation over bank fines

The deputy governor of the Bank of England has called for better co-operation with US regulators over the scale of fines being levied on banks to ensure they do not weaken their financial position.

Oliver Says Canada Won’t Make Major House Finance Changes

Canada won’t make any sudden changes to the country’s system of housing finance, even as the government looks at ways to reduce its role in the market, Finance Minister Joe Oliver said.

G20 vows to breathe new life into world economy

G20 nations including the United States and China said on Sunday they can overcome geo-political tensions and financial risks to achieve extra combined growth of 1.8 percent, adding trillions of dollars to the world economy.

As G20 chases growth goal, members differ on how to get there

(Reuters) - Financial leaders of the Group of 20 top economies remain committed to chasing higher global growth, but were divided on how to achieve it as Germany pushed back at calls from the United States and others for more immediate stimulus.

Business 'relief' over Scotland's rejection of independence

Many businesses have spoken of 'relief' over Scotland's rejection of independence, but said the "No" vote was the start of a period of change.

Canada’s Oliver Eases Austerity Push as G-20 Gathers

Some Group of 20 countries may need more breathing room to meet their deficit targets with the global economy struggling to pick up steam, Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver said.

U.S. current account gap narrows in the second quarter

(Reuters) - The U.S. current account deficit unexpectedly narrowed in the second quarter, supported by a partial reversal of a large equity disinvestment that had occurred in the previous quarter.

Australia’s Hockey Says No Way G-20 Will Soften GDP Goal

Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey said there was “no way” Group of 20 nations would soften their commitment to increasing gross domestic product by an additional 2 percent.

Scotland could thrive on its own, says Wetherspoon boss

The boss of Wetherspoon, one of Britain's biggest pub chains, has said Scotland could thrive on its own, and the company is forging ahead with expansion plans north of the border.

Show us the money: EU seeks billions of euros to revive economy

(Reuters) - The European Union sought ways on Saturday to marshal billions of euros into its sluggish economy without getting deeper into debt, considering options from a pan-European capital market to a huge investment fund.

Osborne and Carney to miss G20 summit for Scottish referendum result

The chancellor, George Osborne, and the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, are to miss next weekend's meeting of G20 central bank governors and finance ministers to ensure they are in the UK for the outcome of the Scottish referendum.

South African Manufacturing Slumps After Four-Week Strike

South African manufacturing declined the most in almost five years in July after a four-week strike disrupted factory output.

Unions oppose US trade deal with EU

Plans for a major EU-US trade deal have been denounced by trade unions on the last day of their annual conference.

France breaks 2015 deficit-cutting promise

(Reuters) - France announced on Wednesday it was breaking the latest in a long line of promises to European Union partners to cut its public deficit, conceding it now would take until 2017 to bring its finances in line with EU rules.

Canadian housing starts cool in August, seen moderating further

(Reuters) - Canadian housing starts cooled more than expected in August, while the previous month was also revised slightly lower, data showed on Tuesday, setting the stage for what is widely expected to be a slowing housing market as 2014 draws to a close.

Japan's economy shrinks more than initial estimates

Japan's economy contracted by 7.1% in the three months to June, more than initial estimates, and revised from 6.8% reported in August.

Obama: U.S. to 'start going on some offense' in ISIS fight

Russian policy makers are discussing non-standard monetary instruments they may use if the European Union tightens the stranglehold of sanctions over Ukraine, according to central bank First Deputy Chairman Ksenia Yudaeva.

China's new budget law to improve policy transmission -c.bank

BEIJING, Sept 5 (Reuters) - China's new budget law which allows regional governments to raise debt by themselves would improve the transmission mechanism of the country's monetary policy, a senior economist at the central bank said on Friday.

Standstill confirmed: eurozone growth has ground to a halt

The eurozone saw no growth whatsoever in the second quarter of this year, as ongoing tensions over Ukraine and weak demand weighed on output.

Bank of England holds rates despite robust recovery

(Reuters) - The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold on Thursday as Britain's economy continued to thrive, although risks to the recovery both at home and abroad remain.

Scottish independence has finally rattled the City of London

The City has had to wake up. For the past year, economists, investors and financial strategists have barely bothered to think what Scottish independence would mean for the pound, UK debt and short-term economic prospects on both sides of the border.

Obama renews pressure on Congress for minimum wage hike

President Barack Obama has said he will continue to press Congress to raise the federal minimum wage as the US rebounds from recession.

EU-US trade deal could add £10bn to UK economy a year, claims minister

The government has rebutted accusations that a vast free trade deal being negotiated between the EU and the US will act as a cover to privatise the NHS while also watering down food standards and banking regulations.

China orders salary cuts of top executives of State owned enterprises

BEIJING: Days after criticism by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) has approved plans and decided to cut hefty salaries of executives of large state-owned enterprises (SOEs).