Romania backs out of mine sale, privatization hits snag

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania has backed out of a deal to sell its biggest copper mine to Canada's Roman Copper Corp, its economy minister said on Saturday, a fresh blow to a privatization plan agreed with the International Monetary Fund.

China looks at more support for IMF bailouts

The two nations said they will consult “very closely” on the issue after Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF, asked members to commit as much as $500bn (£315bn) extra to the Washington-based global lender for possible bailouts.

UK Economy Narrowly Avoided Recession In First Quarter-NIESR

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- The U.K. economy narrowly avoided falling back into recession in the first quarter of 2012, an independent economic research group said Thursday.

IMF director says global recovery very fragile

WASHINGTON (AP) — The managing director of the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday that the global economy is making some advances in digging itself out of a punishing recession, but that the recovery remains very fragile, especially in Europe.

Unemployment in Euro Zone Hit New High in February

LONDON — Unemployment in the euro zone reached its highest level in almost 15 years in February, with more than 17 million people out of work, according to figures released Monday.

Spain Record Home Price Drop Seen With Bank Pressure

Spanish home prices are poised to fall the most on record this year, leaving one in four homeowners owing more than their properties are worth, as the government forces banks to sell real-estate holdings.

EU Ministers Urge Steps Toward IMF Support

COPENHAGEN—European finance ministers urged a prompt decision on ramping up the International Monetary Fund's crisis-fighting resources, a day after they agreed to commit more funds to their own so-called firewall.