The European Investment Bank has signed a EUR 50 mln agreement with the Co-operative Central Bank for financing small and medium-sized enterprises in Cyprus. The EIB increased its total lending volume in 2009 to an unprecedented EUR 79 bln, a 37% rise from EUR 58 bln in 2008, which represents a new milestone in providing
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The recent weakening in Portugal's sovereign credit fundamentals, which is reflected in the negative outlook on the Aa2 government debt rating, and the challenges ahead for the domestic economy raise questions about the potential impact these developments may have on the credit profiles of Portuguese banks, Moody's Investors Service said in a new Special Comment.
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Bulls may get more room to run this week on the anniversary of the March 2009 lows — if U.S. stock investors see more signs of stability after Friday's rally on smaller-than-expected job losses. The catalysts could be February retail sales and March consumer sentiment. On Friday, stocks jumped after U.S. Labor Department data showed
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Apple Inc said the first iPads will be in U.S. stores on April 3 and hit nine international markets later in the month, easing concerns that manufacturing constraints could delay launch. The news sent shares of Apple surging as much as 4.3 percent to an all-time high of $219.70 on the Nasdaq, as analysts said
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Panasonic Corp will tie up with the top U.S. electronics chain Best Buy Co to market and boost the sales of its 3D TVs in the United States, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday. The report comes ahead of the world's fourth-largest flat TV maker's launch of its 3D TV in the United States
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Britain's top share index rose 0.2 percent early on Monday as gains by miners, on the back of higher commodity prices, outpaced falls by banks and drugmakers, led by AstraZeneca after a cancer drug failed to meet its goals. By 0926 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 8.83 points at 5,608.59, having closed 1.3 percent
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Easing fears about the U.S. economy and European debt lifted world equity markets on Monday, extending a rally that has taken many bourses into positive territory for the year. MSCI's all-country world stock index was up 0.6 percent, driven by strong performances in Japan and emerging markets. European shares were flat to higher in early
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Oil rallied to an eight-week peak above $82 a barrel on Monday, near its highest this year, buoyed by a weaker dollar and signs of an economic recovery in top oil consumer the United States. Currency movements could set the direction for prices as demand strength may be unclear during the recovery, analysts said. Some
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European shares turned briefly negative in early trade on Monday as drugmakers weighed, but gains in miners supported as metal prices rose. By 0857 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was up 0.1 percent at 1,055.30 points after earlier being as low as 1,053.75. Drugmakers fell. AstraZeneca dropped 1.1 percent after the
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President Demetris Christofias said on Sunday that vigilance is necessary in order to avert deterioration of the economy, due to the financial crisis. Speaking at a conference organised by AKEL women's movement, Christofias referred to the measures his government took last year to boost the economy, adding that ''it is obvious these were not sufficient.''
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