U.S. investors to keep eye on Greece as crisis worsens

U.S. investors are expected to keep an eye on the Greek debt drama next week amid reports that Greece’s coffers are so depleted that its banks may not have enough money to open for business on Monday.

Italy’s Bonds Rise With Spain’s as Official Signals ECB Stimulus

Italian and Spanish bonds rose for the first time in three days as European Central Bank policy maker Christian Noyer said in an interview officials would consider buying government debt to stimulate euro-area growth.

Gulf Region Investment in U.S. Real Estate Surges 51%

Persian Gulf investors from sovereign wealth funds to rich individuals increased spending on U.S. real estate, attracted by the pace of economic growth, a survey by Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. showed.

U.S. consumer spending falters; wage gains highest since 2008

(Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending fell for the first time in eight months in September, suggesting the economy lost some momentum heading into the fourth quarter.

Record Bets Against Japan Stocks Tell Investors Time to Buy

As bets pile up against Japanese stocks, investors with $293 billion in client assets see the pessimism as a signal to buy. History is on their side.

Bank of Italy says budget delay justified to spur growth

(Reuters) - Italy would be justified in delaying its balanced budget target by a year if the resources freed up were used to help stimulate growth, a senior Bank of Italy official said on Monday.

Searching for growth in Europe, clarity in China

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The euro zone's struggle to avoid another recession will take center stage in the coming week in the absence of major U.S. data, as investors mull whether the ECB's new asset-buying plan is a prelude to even more radical steps.

Singapore economy expands 3.5% in first half: PM

Singapore's trade-sensitive economy grew 3.5 percent in the first half and was on track for 2.5-3.5 percent expansion this year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Friday.

U.S. retail sales rise less than expected in May

(Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rose less than expected in May, but that probably will do little to change expectations of an acceleration in growth this quarter as data for the prior months was revised higher.

Nigeria becomes Africa's biggest economy

Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria on Sunday became Africa's biggest economy, leap-frogging South Africa, after the government announced a long-overdue rebasing of the country's gross domestic product.

UK services sector growth eases in March

Growth in Britain's services sector was the slowest in nine months in March, missing forecasts but doing nothing to change expectations that economic recovery was sustained in first quarter overall.

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.

GIC’s Investment in Linx Shows Confidence in Brazil’s Economy

GIC Pte, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is buying stakes in Brazilian companies in a sign of confidence the world’s second-largest emerging market will overcome slower growth.

G20 meeting targets an additional 2% economic growth

Financial leaders from the 20 biggest economies have set a goal of generating $2 trillion (£1.2 trillion) in extra output over the next five years.

US wholesale inventories rise in November, sales up

WASHINGTON: US wholesale inventories rose a bit more than expected in November, suggesting that restocking would probably contribute to economic growth in the fourth quarter.

Biggest Indonesian Fund to Boost Equities, Bonds: Southeast Asia

Indonesia’s biggest pension fund plans to boost equity and bond holdings in 2014 as it expects domestic consumption and a possible reduction in interest rates to raise company earnings in a presidential-election year.

Eurozone: Recession over, but recovery's roots still shallow

LONDON: The cheery freeze frame of the euro zone economy last quarter is no guarantee of a happy ending to what has been a horror movie for most of the single currency bloc since the onset of the great financial crisis.

Portugal may re-ignite Europe crisis

Political turmoil in Portugal is threatening to re-ignite Europe's debt crisis after a year of relative calm.

Portugal Yields Need Draghi to Keep His OMT Promise

Portugal’s 10-year bond yield jumped more than a percentage point in the past month to levels that may test European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s pledge to buy bonds of crisis-torn countries.

US retail sales beat expectations as automobiles surge

WASHINGTON: US retail sales rose more than expected in May as households stepped up purchases of automobiles and bought other goods, suggesting the economy was squeezing out of a recent soft patch.