The annual inflation rate in the 16 countries that use the euro rose to a ten-month high in December but still remains way below the European Central Bank's ceiling, official figures showed Tuesday.
The European Central Bank left its main interest rate unchanged at a historic low of 1 percent on Thursday and took the first steps to withdraw some of its extraordinary liquidity support now that recovery is under way.
The dollar rose Monday to its highest level since the first week of November as last week's U.S. jobs report fed traders' expectations of higher U.S. interest rates.
European and U.S. stock markets pared gains Thursday after a downbeat U.S. services sector survey stoked concerns about the recovery in the world's largest economy just a day before a key jobs report.
Although it is too early to say the crisis is over, it is time to withdraw some of the policy measures that supported the financial system through the credit crunch, the European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Friday.
World stock markets tumbled further Friday amid fears about the fallout from Dubai's debt problems.
Asia's stock markets mostly retreated Friday following a glum session on Wall Street as evidence of a weak economic recovery continued to pile up. European shares rose.
The dollar mostly declined Wednesday, with the euro bumping up near $1.50 as a Federal Reserve official said in a speech that interest rates could possibly not rise until 2012 from their current record low near zero — if the Fed acts as it has before.
The head of the European Central Bank on Thursday hinted it could begin withdrawing some of its crisis measures soon, while the Bank of England pumped more money into the economy in an attempt to get Britain out of recession.
The dollar dropped to a new 15-month low as the the euro rose above $1.50 Wednesday morning, even as Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner reiterated the administration's stance that a strong dollar is good for the U.S. economy.
The European Central Bank on Thursday left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low of 1 percent and indicated it wouldn't raise it in the near future — even as bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said the worst of the recession has passed.
The dollar was mixed Monday as investors looked ahead to third-quarter earnings reports for more clues on the state of the global economy.
The head of the European Central Bank said Thursday that the 16 countries that use the euro should withdraw stimulus programs and start repaying mounting public debt by 2011 at the latest.
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet warned EU governments Wednesday that the public will be unforgiving if authorities don't provide a stronger financial system.
The dollar continued its slide to fresh annual lows against the euro Thursday as investors felt confident to leave the safety of the American currency.
Improving consumer and business sentiment are signs of an economic rebound in the countries using the euro, European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday — though he warned any recovery was bound to be uneven.
European stocks rose Thursday ahead of expected gains on Wall Street after the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged and was widely expected to revise up its economic outlook.
World stock markets shot higher Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said the world's largest economy appeared to be "leveling out" from its worst recession in decades.
The Bank of England surprised markets on Thursday with a significant expansion of its program to boost the money supply and support growth, even as it and the European Central Bank kept official interest rates steady at record lows.
The European Central Bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1 percent Thursday, preferring to wait and see if its "spectacular" infusion of credit into the banking system will loosen lending to consumers and businesses in the euro zone's struggling economy.
The dollar rose slightly Tuesday after a private research group said consumer confidence unexpectedly fell in June.
The European Central Bank and the Bank of England both kept official interest rates at record lows on Thursday, adopting a cautious holding stance amid fledgling signs of an economic recovery across Europe.
Asian stock markets advanced Thursday, with Japan's benchmark Nikkei index rising above 10,000 for the first time in eight months amid cautious optimism that the region is slowly moving toward recovery.
The dollar leapt against the major currencies Friday, regaining some of its losses from this week as jobs data from the U.S. showed a jump in the unemployment rate but indicated a deceleration in layoffs.
The 16 countries that use the euro saw zero inflation in the year to May, official figures showed Friday, stoking expectations prices may fall for several months — and increasing concern about whether policymakers are doing enough to ward off a debilitating downward spiral.