The Bank of Japan said it was slightly more optimistic about economic and financial conditions on Thursday, bringing it a step closer to phasing out support for corporate funding. The central bank also dismissed concerns that a rallying yen would threaten economic recovery, with Governor Masaaki Shirakawa toeing the finance minister's line that a stronger
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U.S. stock index futures rose slightly on Thursday, edging toward a fourth straight positive session, as investors awaited key data on the labor and housing markets. * The Labor Department is to release weekly first-time claims for jobless benefits at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT). Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a total of 555,000
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Banks and commodity stocks helped lift the FTSE 100 0.7 percent by midday on Thursday, taking its rally into a fifth straight session on global economic recovery hopes. At 1122 GMT the FTSE 100 was up 36.86 points at 5,160.99, having added 1.6 percent on Wednesday to end the session at 5,124.13 — the highest
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British retail sales stalled in August confounding expectations of a small rise as clothing sales exerted the biggest downward impact, official data showed on Thursday. Analysts had predicted a 0.1 percent rise on the month and the Office for National Statistics said August's unchanged reading took the annual rate of growth in retail sales volumes
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British manufacturing orders fell slightly less than expected and firms became more optimistic about future output in September, a survey showed on Thursday. The Confederation of British Industry's Industrial Trends survey's order book balance rose to -48 from -54 in August. That was the highest since January and compared with analysts' forecast of a reading
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Air traffic at Larnaca and Paphos airports recorded a decline in June 2009, in comparison to June 2008. Communications and Works Ministry said in a press release that according to the Civil Aviation Department statistical data, during June 2009 flights at Larnaca airport, on the south, decreased by 5,5%, cargo transport by 6,3% and passengers’
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President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Thursday that the Turkish side had shifted its stance on the issue of executive powers, in the context of negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem, adding that the new revised proposals on governance would be sent to experts for further consideration. Speaking on his return
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Five persons, charged in connection with an air crash in August 2005, denied charges of causing the death of passengers and crew on board an Helios aircraft, as their trial opened here Thursday before the Assize Court. The five suspects are Helios Airways as a legal person and four officials, Andreas Drakos Helios Executive Chairman,
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Consistency needed to avoid “race to the bottom” By Caren Bohan (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will pledge U.S. action on financial regulatory reform at the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh and underscore the need for global coordination on the issue, a senior aide said on Wednesday. "It is urgent," Michael Froman, Obama's top
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Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland shares soared on Thursday on expectations the government may not have to take equity in the lenders following the creation of a "bad bank" to purge the sector of risky loans. Investors have been giving Irish banks the cold shoulder over the past year amid fears that their
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