LONDON, Jan 23- World shares hovered near 20- month highs on Wednesday, supported by some upbeat corporate earnings, an easing of fears about the U.S. debt ceiling and a better outlook for the global economy.
Strong investor confidence data from Germany, Japan's plans to shore up the world's third largest economy, and improving economic numbers this month from the world's top two economies, the U.S. and China, have all cheered investors.
*MSCI Asia ex- Japan up 0.1 pct, Nikkei falls 0.8 pct. The yen stabilized after firming as realisation sank in that monetary easing announced on Tuesday by the Bank of Japan had fallen short of some market expectations, though many analysts acknowledged that the BOJ was showing determination to pull Japan out of years of deflation and economic stagnation.
*MSCI world share index hits new 20- month high. NEW YORK, Jan 22- U.S. stocks were mixed on Tuesday after major Wall Street stock indices hit five-year highs and Japan promised a program of open-ended monetary easing to revive its listless economy.
*MSCI world share index hits new 20- month high. NEW YORK, Jan 22- U.S. stocks were mixed on Tuesday after major Wall Street stock indices hit five-year highs and Japan promised a program of open-ended monetary easing to revive its listless economy.
*Berlin festivities on 50th anniversary of Elysee Treaty. BERLIN, Jan 22- The leaders of Germany and France promised to put forward common proposals to deepen Europe's economic and monetary union by May, as they put on a show of unity on the 50th anniversary of the pact that sealed their post-war reconciliation.
*Euro crisis eases but dangerous imbalances persist. LONDON, Jan 22- The euro zone crisis is entering a new, treacherous phase for governments, which can only cross their fingers that slow-burn reforms will pay off before voters get fed up with austerity and high unemployment.
*Juncker- officials to examine loan extension for Portugal. BRUSSELS, Jan 22- Both Ireland and Portugal asked euro zone finance ministers on Monday to extend the repayment of part of their bailout aid, Ireland's finance minister said, a move that would ease their return to normal borrowing on financial markets.
LONDON, Jan 21- A wintry burst of weather hit businesses and travellers across Britain for a fourth day on Monday, threatening an unprecedented "triple-dip" recession that could knock the government's economic plans further off track.
MADRID, Jan 21- Spanish workers are increasingly walking off the job to protest wage reductions and privatisations by the government as it tackles a steep public deficit that last year threatened to bankrupt the country.
*Bank of Japan monetary easing set to lend support. LONDON, Jan 21- Gold prices rose on Monday as stock markets were lifted towards two-year highs by moves to break a budget impasse in the United States, and as the euro steadied ahead of the first euro zone finance ministers' meeting of the year.
In what some call the "reverse Volcker moment," Ben Bernanke has become the first head of a central bank for decades to announce he will target a 6 percent level of unemployment alongside his inflation objective.
BRUSSELS, Jan 18- Euro zone finance ministers will discuss on Monday which banks could be given direct aid from the bloc's bailout fund, embarking on a divisive debate that includes doubts about whether such a step should be taken.
BRUSSELS, Jan 18- Euro zone finance ministers will discuss on Monday which banks could be given direct aid from the bloc's bailout fund, embarking on a divisive debate that includes doubts about whether such a step should be taken.
MOSCOW, Jan 17- Russia sought on Thursday to calm a' currency war' that has flared between the developed and emerging worlds and threatens to dominate Moscow's annual presidency of the Group of 20 forum.
WASHINGTON, Jan 17- The European Central Bank should keep monetary policy easy and perhaps try to lower borrowing costs further to help the euro zone's struggling economy, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.
WASHINGTON, Jan 16- Portugal's economic policy and reform efforts have been "impressive," a senior official at the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday, also warning the near-term outlook for the country was uncertain given the need for more budget cuts.
WASHINGTON, Jan 16- Greece's economic program is moving in the right direction, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday as the IMF agreed to disburse the next tranche of the country's rescue loan.