PORTUGAL

Major data releases aplenty are on the economic calendar next week. In the U.S., investors will focus on July retail sales, industrial production, and consumer prices. In the euro zone, second-quarter gross domestic product figures across the major economies and the German ZEW index are the main highlights.

Manchester United are closing in on their marquee summer signing, plus the latest on the club's scouring of the transfer market for a left-back.

Chelsea look set to remain busy in the transfer market as the start of the new Premier League season approaches.

Next week will be a reasonably quiet one for both the U.S. and the euro zone, but China will be dumping a whole bunch of macro data for July .

The exit of one or more countries from the euro zone could drive gold prices significantly higher by the end of this year, according to a Friday Capital Economics report.

There could still be much movement both in and out of Old Trafford this summer.

Thalia Paraskeva, 24, was getting increasingly desperate. Equipped with a degree in graphic design from Athens, she had no luck finding a job in Greece. One day, she booked a ticket to Berlin and swiftly packed some dresses, a jacket, a pair of snug boots and a Greek-German dictionary before boarding the plane.

Why Manchester United have failed to sign a player with the bustling energy to complement their existing playmakers.

Before the days of LeBron James and Michael Phelps athletes could sign up to compete in hot air ballooning, live pigeon shooting and a variety of other crazy events.

Next week could see some major worldwide financial implications, depending on what three of the world's largest central banks do at their scheduled meetings.

The Spanish crisis, last week’s German vote, talk of a possible withholding of funds for Greece, and now the downgrading of the credit outlook for Europe’s strongest economies, point to a worsening of the financial crisis, a reduction in support for the euro, and a global economy increasing at risk.

Asian stock markets declined Wednesday as mounting concerns over the euro zone debt crisis continued to weigh on the sentiment while disappointing earnings from Apple hit tech shares.

Most European markets fell Wednesday as investors continued to have concerns of the worsening economic conditions in the euro zone.

Asian stock markets advanced slightly Tuesday after a report showed that Chinese factory activity in July grew at its fastest pace since February.

Asian stock markets slumped Monday as renewed concerns over the euro zone debt crisis and worries about the Chinese economic slowdown dented investor sentiment.

Crude oil futures plunged Monday as renewed concerns over the euro zone debt crisis weighed on the financial markets and commodities.

The 2012 Olympics are finally at hand, after four long years of training and anticipation by the world's best athletes and fans of sport from every corner of the globe.

A declining currency value could be a boon for Europe and a final solution to the ongoing crisis, economists say.

Liverpool have completed their first signing of the Brendan Rodgers era and more could soon be on the way.

The euro zone will not disintegrate. Instead, there is a fifty-fifty chance of a split between the financially sound countries and economically weaker ones, the Economic Outlook Group said on Friday.

Manchester United may still be in the frame to sign two of this summer's most sought-after stars.