World economy
NSA’s phone tapping unconstitutional: US judge
17 Dec 2013
The judge said the government "does not cite a single instance in which analysis of the NSA's bulk metadata collection actually stopped an imminent attack, or otherwise aided the government in achieving any objective that was time-sensitive in nature"
Governments divided on Bitcoin's status as money
16 Dec 2013
Norway has decreed Bitcoin to be an asset upon which capital gains tax could be charged, though it says the virtual currerncy did not qualify as real money
Japan to woo ASEAN with $20-bn aid pledge
13 Dec 2013
Japan is expanding currency swap deals with Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore ahead of the week-end summit with the 10-member ASEAN
Japan’s cabinet approves $53 bn in stimulus spending
12 Dec 2013
The $ 53 billion in fresh stimulus approved on Thursday is expected to create at least 250,000 jobs
US Congressional negotiators near budget deal to ease spending cuts
11 Dec 2013
US congressional negotiators are nearing a deal aimed at keeping the government going for nearly two more years, striking a rare bipartisan agreement that is expected to ease the threat of automatic spending cuts
US growth to ramp up by mid-2014
10 Dec 2013
OECD sees growth picking up in major economies
10 Dec 2013
While October indicators for China, India and Russia showed tentative positive changes in momentum, the composite leading indicators of growth for these countries were still below the trend rate
Thai prime minister calls fresh elections, dissolves parliament
09 Dec 2013
Striking opposition leaders, meanwhile, vowed to continue the stir until Yingluck Shinawatra quit as prime minister and handed over control to an unelected council
WTO looks set for historic trade pact
06 Dec 2013
WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo said he has drafted a text incorporating terms that are acceptable to all members, including India, which had raised vocal objections over agriculture
Japan to pump $182 bn more to stimulate economy
06 Dec 2013
The 18.6 trillion yen package is an exaggerated figure, including loans from government-backed lenders and spending that are already scheduled
Political risk premiums zoom as emerging market FDI dips: World Bank
06 Dec 2013
The market for political risk insurance expanded 33 per cent last year to $100 billion, a historic high, and is on track for similar growth this year, even as FDI is falling
India, China to gain importance as US allies: Pew study
05 Dec 2013
Support for closer trade and business ties between the US and other nations stands at its highest point in more than a decade, a new poll reveals
Deutsche Bank hit hardest as EU fines 6 banks €1.7 bn for rate-rigging
05 Dec 2013
Whistle blowers, Britain's Barclays and Switzerland's UBS, escaped fines over rate-rigging, while Germany's Deutsche Bank was slapped with the stiffest penalty of €725 million