United States

Monday, August 8th 2011 - 19:52 UTC
Obama calls for ‘political will’ to address situation; ‘US will always be triple-A’

Stock markets extended their heavy losses on Monday despite US President Barack Obama moving to try to reassure investors. In his first public reaction to Standard & Poor's downgrading the US, President Obama said markets continued to regard US government debt as being the highest possible grade.
Saturday, August 6th 2011 - 08:15 UTC
US voters furious: disapproval of Congress rises to an all-time high of 82%

Disapproval of the United States Congress rose to an all-time high after weeks of rancorous partisan battles over raising the US debt ceiling took the country to the brink of default, according a New York Times/CBS News public opinion poll published on Friday.
Saturday, August 6th 2011 - 08:10 UTC
The unthinkable has happened: S&P downgrades the US credit rating

One of the top credit rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, has downgraded the United States' top-notch AAA rating for the first time ever. S&P cut the long-term US rating by one notch to AA+ with a negative outlook, citing concerns about budget deficits.
Friday, August 5th 2011 - 18:44 UTC
US payroll data comes as a relief, but markets fear recession ‘round the corner’

US job growth accelerated more than expected in July as private employers stepped up hiring, a development that could ease fears the economy was sliding into a fresh recession.
Friday, August 5th 2011 - 07:47 UTC
Obama administration confident Geithner will remain in his job

President Barack Obama’s senior advisers are confident Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will remain in his job even though he hasn’t made his intentions public, an administration official said.
Thursday, August 4th 2011 - 19:37 UTC
US Senate breakthrough for trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama

The United States Senate leaders ended an impasse over stalled free-trade agreements, agreeing to vote after the August recess on benefits for workers who lose their jobs because of overseas competition, which opens the way for the approval of pending agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama.
Thursday, August 4th 2011 - 19:21 UTC
US gross national debt equivalent to 100% of GDP, first time since 1947

The United States gross debt shot up 238 billion dollars to reach 100% of GDP after the government's debt ceiling was lifted, Treasury figures showed. On Tuesday, the Treasury had to add more than 200 billion of commitments immediately after President Barack Obama signed into law an increase in the debt ceiling.
Thursday, August 4th 2011 - 19:14 UTC
Compromise achieved, fiscal reform is the next chapter, says Geithner

Following the political agreement which enabled the US Congress to lift the debt ceiling and avoid default, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner wrote a piece for The Washington Post, where he displays what in his opinion are the following steps for the world’s largest economy to restore fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
Wednesday, August 3rd 2011 - 22:06 UTC
IDB approves a financial support plan of 1.8 billion dollars for Uruguay

The Inter American Development Bank, IDB, approved this week a new country ambitious strategy with Uruguay with a financial plan for the period 2010–2015 of up to 1.8 billion dollars of for sovereign-guaranteed loans.
Wednesday, August 3rd 2011 - 06:53 UTC
China Dagong agency downgrades US credit rating from A+ to A with negative outlook

Chinese rating agency Dagong Global Credit Rating Co. said Wednesday it has cut the credit rating of the United States from A+ to A with a negative outlook after the U.S. federal government announced that the country's debt limit would be increased.