EUROPEAN UNION

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced support for Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann on Sunday, saying she welcomed his warnings about the handling of the euro zone debt crisis and saw his influence within the European Central Bank as positive.

Most of the Asian markets fell in the week as investor confidence was dragged down by the lack of stimulus measures from policymakers to support the global economy and regain growth momentum.

Most of the European markets fell Friday as investors were worried that the economic condition of the euro zone continued to weaken.

Asian shares retreated from a two-week high Friday on scaled back expectations of more stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve and growth concerns after manufacturing surveys from the euro zone and China depicted a bleak outlook.

UK retail giants like Sainsbury and Tesco prefer to buy and move wine in bulk because they can transport higher volumes of the product at a cheaper cost.

France will abandon some of its discriminatory policies against Roma immigrants and give them greater access to the French job market.

European markets rose Thursday as investors were hopeful ahead of the meetings between the Greek and other euro zone leaders this week to discuss measures to tackle the economic and financial instability affecting Greece.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open Wednesday as investor confidence was weighed down by the report that Japan returned to trade deficit in July indicating a soft global demand and weakening economic growth momentum.

Japan reported Wednesday a rise in trade deficit in July compared to the previous month with a decrease in exports and an increase in imports, raising concerns of the global economic condition.

Most of the Asian markets fell Wednesday as investor confidence was weighed down by the report that Japan's trade deficit increased in July, raising more concerns about the faltering global economy.

Asian shares fell Wednesday morning after recent rally, but the euro held near a seven-week high on hopes the European Central Bank will act to rein in surging euro zone borrowing costs and policymakers will find ways to keep Greece on lifelines.

At one point, Mintoff said Malta was part of the ?Arab world? ? a stark symbolic separation from its long British identity.

European markets rose Tuesday as investors were hopeful that the European Central Bank (ECB) would soon announce stimulus measures to rejuvenate the faltering economy of the euro zone and regain the growth momentum.

Asian shares edged up Tuesday as investors held on to hopes the European Central Bank will act to soothe borrowing costs, even as officials denied a report about the shape of its planned bond buying strategy.

Exchange operator CME Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CME) is opening a hot new table in the global financial casino, pushed to set up a derivatives exchange in London by clients who can't be bothered to comply with U.S. law.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) Chief Exectutive Officer Doug Oberhelman has long been an optimist, but these days he's been scaling back on his optimism.

U.S. stock index futures point to a slightly higher open Monday as investors maintained a watchful mode waiting for decisions from meetings between Greek and European leaders this week to discuss reform measures needed to tackle the economic crisis in Greece.

European markets were mixed Monday as investors remained watchful ahead of the meetings between the Greek and other European leaders this week to discuss measures to tackle the economic and financial instability plaguing Greece.

Asian stocks fell Monday as it became apparent to investors that Europe's policymakers were still lingering on taking decisive action to contend with the euro zone debt crisis.

An interview in a British newspaper sets off a European panic: the Finns may be thinking they've had it with the common currency.

Hungary's best and brightest are feeling pinched by an increasingly demanding government.