Archive Europe: Economy

*August retail sales +1.0 pct m/m vs +0.2 pct forecast. LONDON, Sept 20- British retail sales unexpectedly surged in August, official figures showed on Wednesday, boosting the chance the Bank of England will raise interest rates at its next meeting. Last week the BoE surprised investors by saying it was likely to raise rates in the coming months if the economy and...

LONDON— Retail sales in Britain rose far more than anticipated during August, official figures showed Wednesday, further reinforcing expectations that the Bank of England will raise interest rates in November for the first time in a decade. The figures pushed up the value of the pound, as traders think the Bank of England is now even more likely to raise interest...

*Spain slow to take advantage of EU funds to tackle unemployment. But Spain took so long to jump on some of the help sent its way- namely a jobs scheme bankrolled by Europe- it risks not fully using a golden opportunity to help youngsters scarred by a deep recession, politicians, unions and jobseekers say. Yet a slow start to a European Union youth jobs and training...

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 STOCKHOLM- Swedish Deputy Central Bank Governor Martin Floden talks about monetary policy- 1200 GMT. FRANKFURT- ECB Governing Council meeting. TOKYO- Bank of Japan monetary policy meeting.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 STOCKHOLM- Swedish Deputy Central Bank Governor Martin Floden talks about monetary policy- 1200 GMT. FRANKFURT- ECB Governing Council meeting. TOKYO- Bank of Japan monetary policy meeting.

LONDON— Britain's small businesses are more pessimistic about the future than at any time since the immediate aftermath of last year's Brexit vote as higher prices and a stuttering domestic economy weigh on the confidence of firms that don't export, a lobby group said Wednesday. It's now not far off the -3 level seen in the summer of 2016 after Britain voted to...

LONDON, Sept 20- Unemployment is the biggest risk for businesses globally, according to a World Economic Forum survey of business leaders published on Wednesday. The survey of 12,411 executives across 136 countries provides a backdrop for the World Economic Forum's Global Risks report published shortly before its annual January meeting in Davos,...

*British economy growing half its usual rate. LONDON, Sept 19- The Bank of England has chosen an unusual time to announce that British interest rates are likely to rise for the first time in more than 10 years. On top of that, Britain is leaving the European Union in 18 months' time and the ruling Conservative Party is still split over whether to compromise with...

*To cap 3- month deposits at 75 billion forints. BUDAPEST, Sept 19- Hungary's central bank cut its overnight deposit rate and announced further steps to ease monetary conditions on Tuesday, seeking to boost stubbornly below-target inflation. "What is important for the Monetary Council is that it wants to keep monetary conditions loose," Deputy Governor Marton...

BUDAPEST, Sept 19- The forint recovered after the Hungarian central bank cut one of its key interest rates and reduced its inflation forecasts, as the moves had been widely expected. The NBH, led by Gyorgy Matolcsy, a key ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban who will face elections next year kept its base rate unchanged, but lowered its overnight deposit rate by 10...

*Egypt exports to hit $22 billion for 2017. CAIRO, Sept 19- Egypt's exports should grow about 10 percent this year to reach $22 billion, Trade Minister Tarek Kabil said on Tuesday, as the country lures foreign investors keen on setting up manufacturing following economic reforms. Egypt has been trying to market itself as a manufacturing hub for foreign investors,...

ALCSUTDOBOZ, Hungary— European Parliament members who oversee the EU's budget on Tuesday visited a three-station railroad that links three Hungarian villages and has close ties to the country's prime minister. Committee members led by chairwoman Inge Grassle are reviewing EU-funded projects in Hungary. Grassle and other lawmakers, including three from...

LONDON, Sept 19- The dollar hit an eight-week high against the yen on Tuesday as U.S. central bank policymakers meet to discuss further monetary tightening, with renewed calm over North Korea easing demand for perceived safe havens. President Donald Trump will urge U.N. member states to increase pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

LONDON, Sept 19- Emerging stocks seesawed around three-month lows on Tuesday and currencies were mostly flat, including Hungary's forint which hit a two-month low against the euro the previous day in expectation of more monetary policy easing. The focus is on Hungary's central bank which is expected to leave main interest rates on hold but ease policy by...

BUDAPEST, Sept 19- The forint traded off multi-month lows against the euro on Tuesday as investors held their breath ahead of the Hungarian central bank's meeting where it could announce further monetary easing measures. The NBH, the most dovish central bank in the European Union's eastern wing, has repeatedly indicated it would keep monetary conditions...

LONDON, Sept 19- The dollar hit an eight-week high against the yen on Tuesday as U.S. central bank policymakers meet to discuss further monetary tightening, with renewed calm over North Korea easing demand for perceived safe havens like the Japanese currency. President Donald Trump will urge United Nations member states to increase pressure on North Korea to...