Topic: Interest Rates

Japan's core consumer prices edged up in April from a year earlier due to higher energy prices, but the meager pace was a sign the fragile economy was still a long way from achieving the central bank's target of 1 percent inflation.

Four years of economic crisis and market turmoil that have sent German bund yields to record lows now have half of the top bond strategists and economists polled by Reuters fearing a Japan-style "Lost Decade".

Rio Tinto, the world's No.2 producer of iron ore, sees no signs of a slowdown in demand from top consumer China and still plans to almost double its output of the steel-making ingredient by 2016.

Continued weakness in China’s economic data, as well as growing risks of a Greek exit from the euro zone, will drive Beijing to launch aggressive stimulus measures in order to prevent a further deterioration of growth in the world’s second largest economy, economists and strategists told CNBC.

New Zealand unveiled its toughest budget in 20 years on Thursday, with no spending increase and moves to increase the tax take in the struggling economy, as it laid out a return to a budget surplus by 2015.

Fixed-income investors are once again looking sage-like, as the latest eruption in the EU crisis ravages equities.  Two of these funds are up more than 7 percent.

The Indian rupee dropped to a record low against the dollar on Wednesday, sparking mild intervention from a central bank seen by traders as reluctant to be more aggressive against such a strong down trend. 

With Japan awash in cheap funding provided by domestic savings and local banks continuing to park their cash in government bonds, analysts tell CNBC the country faces no urgency in dealing with its rising public debt, despite the latest ratings cut by Fitch.

The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady on Wednesday, preferring to save its ammunition as Europe's deepening debt crisis may warrant further action in the coming months to fend off damage to the fragile economy.

Germany will pay no interest to borrow money over two years this week, taking advantage of investor demand for the euro zone's safest bonds as worries about a Greek euro exit rattle financial markets.

Japan's sovereign rating was cut by one notch by Fitch on Tuesday as a political stalemate dims the chance that the country can curb its snowballing debt.

Japan was the world's major creditor in 2011, for the 21st consecutive year, reflecting corporations' aggressive foreign acquisitions and Japan's prodigious foreign currency intervention.

Thailand's economy expanded a robust 11.0 percent in the first quarter from the previous three months, rebounding from last year's severe flooding, and strong full-year growth is expected due to a jump in consumption and investment after the disaster.

Average U.S. rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgages fell to record lows for the third straight week. The steady decline has made home-buying and refinancing more affordable than ever for those who can qualify. The Christian Science Monitor reports.

If Greece goes: An exit is likely to shatter faith in the eurozone’s integrity for ever. The Financial Times reports.