China and Asia are on shaky ground

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Headwinds for the world's second-biggest economy intensified at the start of the third quarter, with manufacturing conditions in China deteriorating to their worst in two years in July and triggering fresh slides in global commodity prices.

Yellen stands by Fed transparency as lawmakers turn up heat

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on Wednesday resisted calls for more congressional oversight, as members of a House of Representatives panel criticized the central bank’s policies and pressed it to be more accountable.

US employers add solid 223K jobs; rate 5.4 pct., 7-year low

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added 223,000 jobs in April, a solid gain that suggests that the economy may be recovering after stumbling at the start of the year.

Fed lifts stocks, dollar; euro tests 1999 starting point

(Reuters) - The dollar hit a nine-year high and stocks worldwide headed for their first back-to-back rise of the year on Thursday, bolstered by Federal Reserve confidence in the U.S. economy and hopes of aggressive new stimulus in Europe.

Market jolt is reality check for investors

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sometimes a little fear is healthy for stock investors. Nine days ago, after a series of sharp sell-offs, the Standard & Poor's 500 index was down 7.4 percent from its September record as fears of a global economic slowdown intensified.

Fed's Tarullo: global downside risks are policy factor

(Reuters) - Downside risks to the global economy are a factor the Federal Reserve will have to consider even as the U.S. economy recovers from the 2007-2009 financial crisis, Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said on Saturday.

U.S. Fed should end guidance on timing of policy change: Rosengren

(Reuters) - Given the "significant" slack in U.S. labor markets, the Federal Reserve should be patient about reducing monetary policy stimulus and refrain from telling markets exactly when it may raise rates, a top Fed official said on Friday.

As Fed debates rate path, focus on jobs data stirs its own debate

(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's intensive focus on a wide range of labor market data to guide policy-making is driving a wedge between its core decision-makers and others who feel the central bank is straying from traditional guideposts.

A capital markets union could be next thing in EU's in-tray

LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union may seek to tighten its grip over financial markets to help find funds to boost economic growth, a move that could stoke anti-EU sentiment in Britain, the EU's largest financial centre.

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.

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?

U.S.-based stock funds post $3.6 billion outflows over week: Lipper

(Reuters) - Investors in U.S.-based funds pulled $3.6 billion out of stock funds in the week ended April 16 on fears that a selloff in technology and biotech shares could signal a steeper drop in U.S. stocks, data from Thomson Reuters' Lipper service showed on Thursday.

Banks Lending Like It’s 2007 Belied by $10 Trillion Hoard

For all the warnings from the Federal Reserve over excessive risk-taking as loan growth soars to levels last seen just before the crisis, bankers still have 10 trillion reasons to lend.

Fed set to ditch 'threshold' guidance under Yellen

(Reuters) - Janet Yellen's first policy-setting meeting as chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve will focus on how to finesse a rewriting of the central bank's promise to keep interest rates low without roiling financial markets.

Fed officials see high hurdle for changing course on QE taper

(Reuters) - The U.S. economic outlook would have to change dramatically for the Federal Reserve to alter the pace at which it is winding down its massive bond-buying program, three top U.S. central bankers said on Thursday.

Gold Surrenders Streak as Investors Embrace Stocks With 20% Gain

Investors’ 12-year love affair with gold ended in 2013 as they abandoned the precious metal for stock markets in the world’s developed economies, lifting global share prices by the most in four years.

Economy offers little cheer ahead of holidays

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The U.S. economy remains stuck on slow-revolving merry-go-round that won’t bring much mirth ahead of the holiday season.

Malaysia’s Biggest Fund Buying Stocks as Foreigners Sell

Malaysia’s largest pension fund said it was a net buyer of the nation’s stocks during recent declines as foreign investors cut their holdings.

U.S. manufacturing demand, China services sector suggest growth

(Reuters) - Demand picked up in the U.S. manufacturing sector in August, data showed on Tuesday, which together with a report showing steady growth in China's services sector added to signs of strength in the world's two biggest economies.

Korea State Fund to Spend Up to $10 Billion on Alternatives

Korea Investment Corp., the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, plans to spend as much as $10 billion to triple its allocation to alternative assets, diversifying its portfolio to smooth the fund’s returns.