Economic growth is slowing but there is no sign of a worldwide recession, according to global central bankers who said they had no plans for concerted action.
The Euro fell to a two-month low against the dollar on Thursday after the European Central Bank signalled a pause in its interest-rate tightening cycle that began just five months ago.
The Swiss central bank announced Tuesday a ceiling on the currency by setting an exchange rate minimum against the Euro. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) boldest move states that the exchange rate between the Swiss franc and the Euro must not drop below 1.20 Euros. And if it does, the Swiss bank is prepared to enforce the minimum by selling francs and buying up euros in unlimited quantities.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet approved Wednesday new powers for the Euro zone's bailout fund, kicking off a month-long battle to convince sceptics in her conservative camp to back efforts to contain the bloc's crisis.
Spot gold soared to an all-time high above 1,910 dollars on Tuesday, scoring a record top for a fourth consecutive session, as persistent worries about global economic growth burnished bullion's safe-haven appeal.
Financial market pressure on Italy intensified on Tuesday, sucking Europe's second biggest debtor nation deeper into the Euro area danger zone and prompting emergency consultations in Rome and among European capitals.
The European Central Bank should not hike interest rates aggressively and wait for stronger Euro zone growth before increasing rates after this week's expected move, OECD head Angel Gurria said on Monday.
US/UK Hungarian born billionaire investor George Soros says a country will eventually exit the Euro zone and urged policymakers on Sunday to come up with a plan B that could rescue the European Union from looming economic collapse.
Top emerging economies joined forces to slam Europe's obsolete grip on the IMF top job, even as France's finance minister appeared to strengthen her lead in the race to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Latin American stocks fell to an eight-month low on Monday triggered by concerns that the Euro zone debt problem was deepening and signs of slower growth in China. The region’s largest market Brazil’s Bovespa ended at its lowest since July 2010