GDP

Portugal will endure the second deepest recession in the eurozone in 2012-13, according to Capital Economics.

Though the Swiss National Bank has pledged to maintain its extremely supportive policy stance keeping interest rates as close to zero as possible, the Swiss franc is much too high for exporters' comfort, according to Capital Economics.

Though there are signs of recovery, the debt crisis in the developed markets and rising oil prices add to the risk factors looming large over the global economy.

You can't blame investors for feeling a bit squeamish regarding deploying new money in the U.S. stock market these days, despite the Dow Jones Industrial Average's (DJIA) recent rise to 13,000. Where's the Dow headed in the next three months?

The potential growth rate in Japan is low due to a shrinking population as well as slow capital accumulation and without acceleration in productivity growth a shrinking labor force will cause GDP to contract, although GDP per capita is likely to continue to rise according to Capital Economics.

The Indian budget for 2012/13, presented to parliament Friday, incorporates some significant tax hikes and should be viewed positively by the markets and the central bank according to Capital Economics.

With massive debts to repay, Dublin was compelled to accept huge bailouts from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

The euro zone may increase the lending capacity of its bailout funds to almost €700 billion, $914.6 billion, even as Spain faces increasing levels of debt, reports said Friday.

For the first time in decades, the rate of annual spending on the U.S. government-run health insurance program is expected to decline during the current fiscal year before returning to an upward trajectory in 2022.

The positive reports on the U.S. economy are seen as the major cause of the stocks rallying.

The International Monetary Fund is highly unlikely to approve Ukraine's request to restructure $3 billion of loan repayments due this year, but the fact that the government is even considering such a move demonstrates the extent to which it is running out of options, according to Capital Economics.

India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday presented the budget for 2012-13 in the Parliament. Here are the highlights of the budget.

Expectations that the euro zone will fall into recession this year or, at best, post anemic growth, are growing.

The Indian Budget, which will be tabled in the Parliament Friday, is expected to incorporate same features as the previous budget, as the country faces challenging economic conditions and uncertain political scenario.

The central bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) left its repurchase rate on hold at 7.5 percent on Wednesday which according to Capital Economics is the most important since the end of the civil war in 2009.

Fitch Ratings revised down its outlook on Britain's AAA rating to negative Wednesday, warning the nation could lose its top-notch status in the next couple of years if the government eases back on its debt cutting stance.

Developed economies will pick up steam this year thanks to an array of ultra-loose monetary policies from major central banks and amid new signs of progress in the euro zone's debt crisis, a Reuters polls found.

The unprecedented move marks the first time the Union has punished a member state for flouting the strict budget rules, which stipulate no country must go above a debt ceiling of 3 percent of GDP.

The Dow Jones Industrial average rose 218 points, or 1.8%, to close at 13,177, which was the highest since Dec .31, 2007.

The outlook for Mexican economy has brightened in recent months with demand from the U.S. strengthening and also with signs that domestic activity is recovering according to Capital Economics.

Credit agency lifts Greece out of default territory with B-rating on optimism that debt swap and reforms will ease economy problems.