Fed's 'nearly balanced' language no bar to Sept rate rise

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve will not need to see balanced risks to the economy to proceed with an interest rate hike in September, according to former Fed officials and a review of central bank statements through recent turns in policy.

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.

The bond market is bracing for the worst and loading up on cash

The Federal Reserve has signalled that, barring some unexpected economic shock, interest rates will most likely rise this year. And that's causing unease for fixed income investors.

Investors Lose Faith in Turkey

Everyone knows that Argentina, Greece and Ukraine are closest to hell among debt-besieged nations. Now another country is falling into investor purgatory. That's Turkey.

Bankers say big is beautiful, safe and economic

(Reuters) - Europe's bankers defended the big bank model this week in Davos as the mounting cost of regulation puts a question mark over its future.

Fed lays out scenarios for 2015 bank stress tests

(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve said on Thursday it would assume wider corporate bond spreads and a higher oil price in the most strenuous scenario it will use in next year's run of its annual check of banks' health.

Fed lists problems with banks' stress test submissions

(Reuters) - Banks' reliance on poor risk models is among the problems the Federal Reserve found in its health check of the largest U.S. financial institutions, as the Fed explained for the first time on Friday what it thinks of this year's industry submissions.

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.

Fitch Affirms Kazakhstan's Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna at 'BBB+'; Outlook Stable

MOSCOW/MILAN/LONDON, October 10 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has affirmed Kazakhstan's Joint Stock Company Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna's (SK) Long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'BBB+', Long-term local currency IDR at 'A-', National Long-term rating at 'AAA(kaz)' and Short-term foreign currency IDR at 'F2'.

Wall Street profits weighed down by fines in 2014: New York State Comptroller

(Reuters) - Wall Street's profits fell in the first half of the year due to fines related to the 2008-2009 financial crisis, a trend that will likely continue for the remainder of the year, New York state's top financial watchdog said on Tuesday.

German central bank chief criticises ECB asset purchase plan

Berlin (AFP) - Germany's central bank chief Jens Weidmann voiced concern about the European Central Bank's latest asset purchase plan to stimulate the eurozone's moribund economy, in an interview published Sunday.

Analysis: Tsunami of sovereign funds threatens world markets, say investors

LONDON (Reuters) - With returns on government bonds at rock-bottom prices, sovereign wealth funds are muscling into stock markets and other higher-yielding assets like real estate at a rate that private investors warn could destabilize the world economy.

Apollo Pushing Short Credit Fund Amid ’Danger Signs’

Leon Black’s Apollo (APO) Global Management LLC is raising a new fund to bet against corporate credit as concerns grow over deteriorating debt markets.

UK bank lending lags G7, more help needed: survey

(Reuters) - British bank lending to the corporate sector lagged lending in other Group of Seven leading economies last year, despite government attempts to boost the availability of credit, a survey showed on Monday.

UK first-time home-buyers reach highest level since 2007

(Reuters) - The number of first-time homebuyers in Britain hit its highest level since the start of the financial crisis in the first half of 2014, helped by the recovering economy and policies such as Help to Buy, a survey showed on Saturday.

Arabtec assurances revive Dubai stock market

Dubai's stock market bounced back almost 8% after weeks of volatility surrounding construction giant Arabtec.

KKR Joins Sovereigns Seeking Seoul Skyline Yields: Korea Markets

KKR & Co. bought an skyscraper in downtown Seoul, within walking distance from blocks owned by wealth funds of Azerbaijan and Singapore, as falling bond yields and a revived economy spurs a search for higher returns.

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.

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.