Thinking the Unthinkable: Quitting a Currency

Unemployment in Spain is at 27%. Young people are fleeing Portugal and Ireland. One-in-four Greeks say they have difficulty paying for food.

Euro, shares rise on signs of Chinese growth

LONDON (Reuters) - The euro hit a six-week high and shares rose on Monday as signs of quicker Chinese growth boosted investors' risk appetite although gains were capped by U.S. budget worries.

Is Japan really on the brink of a sudden downward spiral?

First Britain was compared to Greece – sunk by debt. Then when the worst of the financial crisis passed and a battered exchequer was still solvent, Britain was likened to another capitalist basket case - Japan.

Merkel calls for eurozone countries to surrender key tax-and-spend powers

Angela Merkel has called for the surrender of key national powers over tax-and-spend policies to Brussels by the 17 countries in the eurozone within three years in order to rescue and shore up the embattled single currency.

German industry orders rise, outlook still gloomy

BERLIN (Reuters) - Stronger domestic demand helped German industrial orders edge up in July and an engineering trade body raised its forecast for full-year output growth but warned the euro crisis would hurt more in the second half of 2012.

Debt crisis: German business confidence slumps

Business confidence in Germany dropped to its lowest level in nearly two and a half years in August, as Europe's biggest economy increasingly feels the pain from the debt crisis, data showed Monday.

Weak euro zone casts long shadows

LONDON (Reuters) - Drug dealers, money launderers and assorted cash-only criminals love the convenience of the 500 euro note.

Eurozone four leaders agree economic growth package

Leaders of the eurozone's four biggest nations have agreed in principle to measures to boost growth equal to 1% of the currency area's economic output.