United States

Tuesday, March 26th 2013 - 05:00 UTC
Bernanke defends low-interest rates arguing they help to boost the global economy

Ben Bernanke has defended the continuing low-interest-rate policies of the US Federal Reserve and central banks in Europe, saying they are helping to boost the global economy. The Fed governor's comments come after some analysts have voiced concern that such low rates are cutting the value of currencies of advanced nations.
Friday, March 22nd 2013 - 07:04 UTC
Bernanke de-personalizes his job: the Fed a ‘terrific team’ and ‘no single person is essential’

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke admitted speaking to President Barack Obama about his future and that he feels no personal responsibility to stay at the helm until the Fed winds down its unprecedented policies to stimulate the US economy.
Friday, March 22nd 2013 - 02:28 UTC
US congress agrees on ‘fiscal warfare’ truth until budget debate next October

Congress has comfortably passed a large spending bill to keep the US government running until the end of September and avert a temporary shutdown. President Barack Obama must now sign the bill, which was passed by a bipartisan vote of 318-109.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:08 UTC
Chinese leadership pledges new relationship with US and demands respect for ‘core interests’

Chinese President Xi Jinping told US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in Beijing on Tuesday that he wants to build a new type of relationship with Washington centred on core interests.
Wednesday, March 13th 2013 - 03:40 UTC
Falklands: US formal position unchanged but describes the referendum as ‘democratic’

The US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that Washington’s formal position regarding the Falklands/Malvinas despite the democratic referendum results, “has not changed: we recognize de facto UK administration of the Islands, but we take no position on sovereignty claims”.
Wednesday, March 13th 2013 - 03:36 UTC
Europe ready to talk with the US to create the world’s largest free trade agreement

The European Commission agreed Tuesday negotiating guidelines for talks with the United States on the world's biggest Free Trade Agreement, stressing a pragmatic approach to even sensitive subjects.
Saturday, March 9th 2013 - 04:40 UTC
US jobs market picks up in February but budget dispute with Congress looms

Hiring in the US has gathered momentum after government figures showed that the economy created 236.000 jobs in February. The figure was much higher than analysts had expected, and more than the 157,000 jobs created in January.
Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 11:04 UTC
Obama calls for a ‘constructive’ future relationship with Venezuela

President Barack Obama said within hours of the death of President Hugo Chavez Tuesday that the United States was interested in a “constructive” future relationship with Venezuela.
Monday, March 4th 2013 - 06:04 UTC
US fourth quarter GDP revised to positive, but still far from satisfactory

Gross domestic product (GDP) in the US in the last three months of 2012 has been revised from showing contraction to growth. The Commerce Department's second estimate was that the economy had grown at an annualised 0.1%. The first estimate was a 0.1% contraction.
Saturday, March 2nd 2013 - 08:03 UTC
Obama signs spending cuts after no agreement is reached with the Republicans

US President Barack Obama has signed into effect a wave of steep spending cuts which he has warned could damage the US economy. The cuts - known as the sequester and drawn up two years ago will take 85bn dollars from the US federal budget this year.