INFLATION

After clawing its way back above $75 a barrel on Thursday for the first time in four weeks, the benchmark oil futures contract fell back again on Friday on news of an unexpected decline in retail sales in the U.S.

U.S. stock investors will keep a close eye on Europe next week, looking for signs the debt crisis may be stabilizing, while industrial production, housing starts and inflation data may offer more clues on the U.S. economic outlook.

U.S. financial markets would be able to stomach gradual sales of the more than $1.4 trillion of mortgage-related debt the Federal Reserve bought to fight the credit crisis, a top Fed official said on Friday.

Consumer sentiment improved in early June to its strongest level in nearly 2-1/2 years, bolstered by hopes of better job and credit conditions, a survey released on Friday showed.

Chinese inflation quickened to a 19-month high in May, but a moderation of growth in factory output and capital spending eased worries for some analysts that the world's third-largest economy could boil over.

The European Union should have stepped in earlier than it did with a rescue package for Greece, European Central Bank board member Nout Wellink said on Friday.

Like the risk-on, risk-off volatility that has buffeted global markets this year, China's currency policy has been subjected to bouts of pressure and criticism from abroad interspersed with periods of calm.

Chinese inflation quickened to a 19-month high in May, but a moderation of growth in factory production and capital spending could further ease worries that the world's third-largest economy runs the risk of boiling over.

The Bank of England looks set to keep interest rates at a record low on Thursday -- and probably for the rest of this year -- as it seeks to bolster Britain's fragile recovery and offset painful government spending cuts.

The United States is not facing a double-dip recession, and with inflation low conditions are setting up for equities in general to do well, Goldman Sachs' senior U.S. investment strategist Abby Joseph Cohen said on Wednesday.

* New finmin shares PM's view inflation above 1 pct needed * Says BOJ has taken appropriate, flexible steps on deflation * Won't guide currency rates in certain direction -Noda * Says Japan to report fiscal reform plans to Toronto G20

A top Federal Reserve official said on Tuesday high unemployment and low inflation justify holding benchmark interest rates ultra-low for quite some time but European debt woes are unlikely to derail the U.S. economic recovery.

A top U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Tuesday high unemployment and low inflation justify holding benchmark interest rates ultra-low for quite some time but European debt woes are unlikely to derail the U.S. economic recovery.

Low inflation and high unemployment in the United States justify the Federal Reserve keeping benchmark interest rates ultra-low for quite some time, Chicago Fed President said on Tuesday.

The precious metals market has started decoupling from global equities, according to National Inflation Association (NIA) which forecasted such an eventuality some months ago.

The global economy looks likely to avoid a relapse into recession, although the next six months may be anemic, with three main causes for concern.

The euro zone is facing a period of zero growth if not recession, and the United States is heading for financial trouble, U.S. economist Nouriel Roubini was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Investments in certificates of deposit (CDs) and real estate are not comparable to gold which is the most stable asset the world has ever seen, according to National Inflation Association of USA (NIA). Responding to investment advice by Dave Ramsey and others in mainstream media on the advantages of investing in CDs and real estate, NIA said that while on the surface, U.S. dollars appear to be 'safe haven' because they have a number on them that always stays the same. U.S. dollars are actually t...

A higher than expected inflation gauge reading, solid New Home Sales and an increase in company operating profits all gave the Aussie dollar a boost in local trade yesterday as it recovered from an early morning dip to 0.8425 to push marginally above the 85 cent handle.

The pace of China's factory output eased last month as gradual policy tightening took a toll on new orders, suggesting to some economists that Beijing will take its time before nudging interest rates higher.

Advanced economies face years of anemic growth and the risk of a double-dip recession as their citizens cope with sluggish employment and highly indebted governments, economist Nouriel Roubini said on Monday.