Revised US GDP figures show shrinking economy over harsh winter

The US economy contracted for the first time in three years in early 2014 after a much worse performance than originally feared.

China's move to speed spending seen a sign of growth concerns

(Reuters) - Chinese authorities are stepping up efforts to ward off a sharper economic slowdown, analysts said after Beijing called on local governments to speed up their spending over the next month to boost activity.

Draghi flags ECB action next Thursday

FORTUNE -- European Central Bank President Mario Draghi dropped his clearest hint yet that the bank will take action next Thursday to ward off the threat of deflation and support the euro zone's faltering economic recovery.

Asian shares waver, euro steady but ECB talk weighs

(Reuters) - Asian stocks erased early modest gains on Tuesday, while the euro steadied but remained vulnerable after overnight comments from the European Central Bank chief heightened expectations of easing steps in the euro zone.

Exclusive hedge funds crack open door to Main Street

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - As a $14.8 billion hedge fund with a reputation for savvy mortgage trades and a record of double-digit returns, Pine River Capital Management has long signed up multi-billion-dollar pension and sovereign wealth funds as investors.

Egypt Stocks Advance to Six-Year High Before Poll; Qatar Gains

Egypt’s benchmark index climbed to the highest since 2008 on bets tomorrow’s presidential election will be peaceful. Qatar’s measure surged to a record.

China's GDP growth may fall to 5 percent by 2017: media

(Reuters) - China's economic growth could slow to around 5 percent in the next two to three years, Chinese media quoted a researcher at an influential think tank linked to the state cabinet as saying, a forecast that contrasts with rosier official estimates.

Week Ahead: Housing Data and GDP

Housing data and a report on gross domestic product will highlight next week’s economic calendar. U.S. banks and securities markets are closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.

Bank of England's Bean says may be case for earlier rate hikes: BBC

(Reuters) - The Bank of England's plan to increase interest rates only gradually may mean it should move earlier than would otherwise be the case, a top policymaker at the central bank said.

African spending spree faces punishment by markets

KIGALI (Reuters) - African economies are securing new funds through resource finds or dollar bonds but many governments face questions over how they use the money and risk being punished by international capital markets.

Qatar fund commits $2 bln investment to Russia - RDIF CEO

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, May 23 (Reuters) - Qatar's sovereign wealth fund the Qatar Investment Authority is allocating $2 billion to Russia via joint investments with state-backed private equity fund the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of Russia's fund said on Friday.

Fed to clarify rate hikes as time nears: Williams

(Reuters) - San Francisco Fed President John Williams told reporters on Thursday that the U.S. central bank will drop "hints," both directionally and qualitatively, about the timing and pace of rate hikes as the time for tightening nears.

Investors play it safe as doubt over economy rises

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street has caught a case of the jitters. Employers are hiring at their fastest pace in 2 ½ years, the economy is expected to expand by a robust 3.5 percent this quarter and corporate earnings have hit a record.

Allianz ends risk-free status of government bonds

(Reuters) - Allianz (ALVG.DE), Europe's biggest insurer, has begun applying a notional charge in its accounts to reflect the risk of holding government bonds as investments, drawing a lesson from the euro zone debt crisis that may prompt others to follow suit.

Stocks barely budge at end of volatile week

After hitting new highs earlier in the week, stocks were under pressure for a third day Friday as worries about the economic recovery grow.

Wealth Fund Growth Boosts Norway’s Budget as Economy Slows

Norway’s new government is tapping more oil revenue than previously estimated this year to support a slowing expansion in Scandinavia’s richest nation.

Singapore Inc. State Firms Are Most Acquisitive: Southeast Asia

GIC Pte and Temasek Holdings Pte, Singapore’s state-owned investment firms, are set to lead global sovereign investors in acquisitions for a second year after emerging as the most active in 2013.

India shares at record high on exit polls

Indian stock markets have risen to a record high after exit polls suggested the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are on course to win the general election.

Rising U.S. economy could help Democrats stave off election loss

(Reuters) - Here's a riddle: Many Republicans deny it's happening. Some Democrats don't want to talk about it. What is it?

Vietnam Stocks Lure Foreign Investors as Locals Spur Selloff

Foreign investors took advantage of Vietnam’s biggest stock-market retreat since 2001 to boost their holdings in a bet that losses spurred by escalating tensions with China will prove short-lived.

BOJ to set aside more reserves as balance sheet grows

(Reuters) - The Bank of Japan will set aside four times the amount of money it normally would as reserves to offset the risk posed by the assets it is rapidly adding to its balance sheet with its quantitative easing.

German exports post big fall in March, trade drags on Q1

BERLIN, May 9 (Reuters) - German exports posted their biggest fall in nearly a year in March and imports also dipped as the crisis in Ukraine and a slowdown in China weighed, narrowing the trade surplus and confirming trade was a drag on growth at the start of 2014.

U.K. Fund Managers Can’t Pass on Corporate-Access Costs

Asset managers won’t be able to pass on to their clients the cost of paying for access to executives as part of new rules by the U.K. markets regulator to rein in research charges.

Janet Yellen says the US economy is on the mend

In testimony in front of the US Congress, Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said the US economy is on the mend but reaffirmed the central bank is prepared to act should it falter.

Asia shares ride Wall Street gains, Europe seen up too

(Reuters) - Asian share markets shuffled higher on Tuesday after promising U.S. economic news helped Wall Street to a firmer finish, though activity was again light with Tokyo still on holiday.

Foreign banks get transition period on U.S. tax evasion law

(Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department said on Friday that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this year and next will take into account "good faith efforts" by foreign banks to comply with a new U.S. anti-tax evasion law set to take effect on July 1.

Abu Dhabi’s NBAD Hires From HSBC as Thursby Seeks to Recruit 450

National Bank of Abu Dhabi PJSC, the United Arab Emirates’ biggest bank, plans to recruit 450 people this year to improve its retail and commercial banking business.

Abu Dhabi and Kuwait Funds Got Priority Royal Mail Shares

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and Lazard Ltd. said there was no conflict of interest when advising on Royal Mail Plc (RMG)’s initial public offering, after the government released a list of “priority investors” in the sale.

Hedge Funds Replace Banks as Europe Property Lenders

Investors in commercial mortgage bonds have grown so tired of waiting for Europe’s market to recover after the financial crisis that they are now lending directly to property developers.

Average house price in England could double in next decade, report says

The average price of a house in England could double in the next decade and hit more than £900,000 by 2034, unless there is a radical new housebuilding programme to provide nearly a quarter of a million new homes a year, a report claims today.

Stocks and shares ISA investors rewarded last year

Investors who put their savings into stocks and shares ISAs were well rewarded over the last year, according to new research.