ECONOMY & MARKETS

Official and private estimates of the state of China's factory sector differ, making it harder to judge the true health of the country's economy.

Joint labor and environmental standards underpin part of the agreement, with the three Central American countries expected to benefit more from the pact than the EU.

Also, the Fed said Wednesday that its outlook on the nation's economy was slightly less optimistic than a few months ago.

Chinese tourists accounted for 24 percent of tax-free consumption worldwide in 2012.

Nine of them used to be major manufacturing centers.

In the past, Summers has argued that tax and spending policy are more important to economic growth than monetary policy.

A surge in U.S. business investment helped lift second-quarter GDP past consensus estimates.

The July job creation was broad-based and greater than Wall Street was expecting.

There were 1 million more jobless in the EU than in June 2012, and youth unemployment neared 60% in Greece and Spain.

Would you pay over $80,000 for a Mini Cooper? How about nearly $100,000 for an Audi A4 sedan?

Friday's U.S. employment report will show continued steady job creation, leaving the Fed on track for before year-end tapering.

The deal, estimated to be worth more than $7 billion, will allow the Pentagon to acquire F-35s at discounted prices following budget cuts.

The decision, subject to final parliamentary approval, will pave the way for India’s 29th state.

The country’s largest bank will pay a record amount to settle FERC’s claim that the bank manipulated electricity markets between 2010 and 2012.

Japan’s manufacturing activity grew in July at the slowest pace in four months, an apparent response to slowing growth in exports.

Spain's economy barely contracted in the second quarter, possibly auguring an end to the country's four-year recession.

Many U.S. cities are reversing four years of underemployment on higher tax revenue and a recovering national economy.

Consumer confidence fell slightly in July due to weak economic and job expectations, according to the Conference Board's latest survey.

For EU consumers, a few black spots can spoil it all.

The benchmark Case-Shiller home price index, which jumped 12.2 percent in May, has posted monthly gains since February 2012.

Europe's rising economic sentiment, which has been trending higher since May, extended its increase in July.

The inflation gains were led by sharply higher food prices, officials said.

All eyes are on the Federal Reserve and Ben Bernanke this week, as the FOMC meets for its two-day policy meeting beginning on Tuesday.

U.S. Q2 GDP is expected to be miserable, with the consensus estimate at an annualized increase of 1%.

Why do violent Chinese insurgents get labeled "freedom fighters" instead of what they would be elsewhere, namely, "terrorists?"

Policymakers will use this meeting to debate how to prepare financial markets for the future bond-buying program reduction.

Britain’s Home Office has confirmed the plan despite complaints of discrimination from the targeted countries.

India's central bank expressed concerns about a slow global recovery and the impact of the Federal Reserve winding down its stimulus program.

Fast food workers in seven cities have gone on strike, asking for a raise of $15 an hour and the right to unionize.