China services sector growth weakens slightly in September: HSBC PMI

(Reuters) - Growth in China's services sector weakened slightly in September as new business cooled, a private survey showed on Wednesday, reinforcing signs of a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy that could prompt more stimulus measures.

George Osborne is right not to be smug over GDP numbers

George Osborne's response to news that Britain has finally recovered all the ground lost in the recession of 2008 and 2009 was notably for its lack of crowing.

One in Three Economists See 2014 BOE Rate Increase

Expectations the Bank of England will begin increasing interest rates in 2014 surged over the past month after Governor Mark Carney cautioned that investors were underestimating the risk, according to a Bloomberg survey.

Household debt serious threat to UK recovery, says Bank of England deputy

The Bank of England deputy governor, Sir Jon Cunliffe, has warned that household debt is a key risk to the UK recovery and said the Bank's new measures to rein in the housing market should be thought of as insurance against a major crash.

Growth figure likely to bolster recovery hopes

Britain's recovery is expected to have held up over the final months of 2013, helping the economy to clock up its strongest annual growth for six years.

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.

Industrial Output in U.S. Was Unchanged in July, Fed Says

Industrial production in the U.S. was unchanged in July as a slowdown at factories overshadowed an increase in mining. The reading for output at factories, mines and utilities followed a 0.2 percent gain the prior month that was smaller than previously reported, a report from the Federal Reserve showed today in Washington.

Mortgage rates soar to 4.46% - biggest jump in 26 years

Rates on 30-year, fixed-rate home loans spiked 0.53 percentage points to an average of 4.46% this week -- the largest weekly increase in more than 26 years, mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Swiss National Bank would not jump to the rescue insolvent banks: Chairman

ZURICH: The Swiss National Bank would not jump to the rescue of any banks that found themselves insolvent following fines to settle US tax evasion probes, the central bank's chairman said.

US factory data shows new sign of slowing economic growth

WASHINGTON: US factory activity expanded at its slowest pace in six months in April, the latest sign that economic growth continued to lose momentum early in the second quarter, though the recovery has not been derailed.

Home Sales Probably Rose, Avowing Rebound: U.S. Economy Preview

Sales of U.S. homes probably rose in December to the highest level in three years as the industry headed toward a more rooted recovery in 2013, economists said before reports this week.

Spending Probably Rose in U.S., Home Sales Climbed

Consumer spending probably rose in November as Americans set aside the threat of higher taxes next year while shopping for the holidays, economists said before reports this week.

Canada's third quarter GDP growth seen falling sharply

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's economy likely expanded at a disappointing annualized rate of 0.9 percent in the third quarter, hurt by weaker demand for the country's exports and the drag of a rapidly cooling housing market.

Bank of Canada repeats rate message, sees debt slowing

OTTAWA (Reuters) - There are signs that Canada's soaring household debt and its heated housing market - two of the biggest headaches for the country's policymakers - are decelerating, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said on Tuesday.

Bank of Canada not seen tightening until fourth-quarter 2013

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada will postpone interest rate hikes until the fourth quarter of next year and will likely water down rather than eliminate its hawkish language when it announces its next rate decision on October 23, a Reuters poll of market forecasters showed on Thursday.

Japan May Add Mortgage Tax Benefits to Cushion Sales Slowdown

Japan may extend mortgage tax benefits by five years and raise the deduction rate to cushion an expected slowdown in home sales in 2014 when a consumption tax increase takes effect.

Obama Announces Refinancing Plan

President Barack Obama announced a fresh bid Wednesday to revive the housing market by letting millions of homeowners refinance their mortgages, presenting a plan that is likely to encounter congressional opposition.

Home foreclosures jump in third quarter

(Reuters) - The number of new home foreclosures jumped by more than 21 percent in the third quarter from the second as banks moved more aggressively after a pause to review how they deal with troubled borrowers, according to a report released by a bank regulator on Wednesday.