Bricks-and-mortar sales edge lower at start of holiday season; online surges: Data

(Reuters) - U.S. shoppers spent slightly less money at brick-and-mortar stores on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday than across the same two days in 2013, while online sales surged to record highs, data showed on Saturday.

Growth slows less than feared, easing pressure for rate cut

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A slowdown in India's economy in the last quarter will increase calls for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step up reforms but was less severe than feared, giving the Reserve Bank ammunition to resist government pressure to cut interest rates.

ECB's Nouy says banks must show they can make profits

(Reuters) - Euro zone banks that failed or barely passed this year's health checks will have to demonstrate they can make sustainable profits and may need to sell off loss-making units, the European Central Bank's top banking supervisor said.

Russia Weighs Monetary Easing Next Year

The Bank of Russia is considering potential monetary easing starting from the second half of next year, Governor Elvira Nabiullina said.

European commission unveils €300bn infrastructure fund to kickstart growth

A three-year programme aimed at generating more than €300bn (£237bn) for huge infrastructure projects across the European Union is to be launched by the EU executive with the aim of kickstarting growth, combating unemployment and addressing the lack of investment in Europe.

Oil price slide and sanctions 'cost Russia $140bn'

The falling oil price is costing Russia up to $100bn a year, while Western sanctions have hit the country by $40bn, its finance minister has said.

Europe not at risk of full-blown deflation: ECB's Constancio

FLORENCE Italy (Reuters) - Europe is not at risk of sliding into "full deflation" but the current rate of inflation is dangerously low, European Central Bank Vice President Vitor Constancio said on Saturday.

Canada Inflation Exceeds All Forecasts on Gas and Clothes

Canada’s inflation rate accelerated faster than economists predicted in October, led by gasoline and clothing and suggesting the economy may be running hotter than the central bank had thought.

Government’s deficit target still off course despite strong October

The chancellor’s plan to cut the deficit this year still looks out of reach as he prepares to deliver the autumn statment next month, despite a surprise improvement in the public finances in October.

German Growth Outlook Dims as Manufacturing, Services Weaken

German manufacturing and services expanded at the slowest pace in 16 months in November, signaling that growth in Europe’s largest economy will remain sluggish.

Fed is creating risks to itself on credibility: Kocherlakota

(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is risking its credibility by not acting aggressively enough to bring inflation back up to its 2 percent target quickly, a top U.S. central banker said on Tuesday.

G-20 and Australia had much riding on summit

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- The relevance of the Group of 20 exclusive club of nations and Australia's place on the world stage had a lot riding on the outcome of the weekend G-20 leaders' summit in the Australian city of Brisbane.

David Cameron warns of looming second global crash

David Cameron has issued a stark message that “red warning lights are flashing on the dashboard of the global economy” in the same way as when the financial crash brought the world to its knees six years ago.

G-20 Plans $2 Trillion Growth Boost to Uneven Global Economy

Group of 20 leaders agreed to take measures that would boost their economies by a collective $2 trillion by 2018 as they battle patchy growth and the threat of a European recession.

Moody's says uncertain Greece could fund itself after bailout

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Moody's said there was doubt that Greece would be in a position to finance itself without any assistance after its international bailout ends later this year, a senior executive at the rating agency told a Greek newspaper.

G20 growth plan has 'spillovers' for smaller countries: paper

(Reuters) - Efforts by the world's 20 major economies in boosting economic growth by a 2.1 percent target could deliver "spillovers" for smaller nations, The Australian newspaper reported on Saturday, citing a draft copy of the G20 Brisbane Action Plan.

German economy averted recession in third quarter: ministry

(Reuters) - The German economy dodged a technical recession in the third quarter, with private consumption and trade supporting modest growth, a senior official in the economy ministry said on Thursday, a day before quarterly GDP data are published.

Banks targeted as France confirms 2015 savings in mini-budget

(Reuters) - President Francois Hollande's government plans to remove a tax break currently available for banks as part of a package of additional measures aimed at getting the European Commission's green light for its deficit-reduction efforts.

Swiss Franc Intervention Looms on UBS Radar as Cap Nears

Switzerland’s franc retreated from within 0.1 percent of the level at which UBS AG, the nation’s largest lender, says the central bank may step in to defend its cap on the currency.

David Cameron warns of more cuts – (many, many more, adds IFS)

Get ready for more cuts. That was the message delivered by David Cameron to the CBI’s annual conference when he warned that more savings would have to be found in the next parliament. Just how big those savings will need to be is still a matter of conjecture.

U.S. labor market tightens, but wages still anemic

(Reuters) - U.S. job growth increased at a steady clip in October and the unemployment rate fell to a fresh six-year low, underscoring the economy's resilience in the face of slowing global demand.

G20 experts to act on corporations’ internal loans that help cut tax

Tax experts responsible for the G20-led shakeup of international tax rules are discussing radical measures to bar global corporations from using internal loans, that bear no relation to their borrowing needs, in order to avoid tax.

Bank of America adjusts results due to legal costs

Bank of America has set aside $400m (£253m) due to rising litigation costs associated with a probe into foreign currency manipulation at the bank.

UK interest rates remain at record low of 0.5%

The Bank of England has held UK interest rates at a record low of 0.5% for another month. It has also decided not to extend its quantitative easing programme, designed to stimulate lending in the economy, beyond the £375bn already spent.

Australia trade deficit doubles on commodity prices

Australia's trade deficit more than doubled to A$2.26bn (£1.2b; $1.96bn) in September, data showed.

Euro zone factory growth sluggish in October as prices fall: PMI

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Euro zone manufacturing activity expanded slightly slower than first thought last month as further discounts at the factory gate failed to drive up new orders, a business survey showed on Monday.

Why Excessively Low Inflation Can Damage Economies

In explaining its surprise move Friday to inject more stimulus into the financial system, the Bank of Japan cited one main factor: Prices that are too low.

U.S. third-quarter wage gains largest since 2008

Oct 31 (Reuters) - - U.S. labor costs rose more than expected in the third quarter as wages recorded their largest gain since 2008, a sign that a long-awaited pick-up in wage growth was underway.

George Osborne questions impact of regulations from Bank of England

George Osborne is calling on the Bank of England to consider the impact on lending to business and households as it toughens the regime to bolster the financial strength of the banking sector.

Consumer confidence falls at fastest rate for four years

Consumer confidence slumped in October as optimism about the general economic backdrop as well as personal finances waned. The YouGov/Cebr confidence index fell by 4.6 points over the month to 109.5.