Japan's Kaieda ahead in PM race but run-off likely


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Eurozone unemployment adds to gloom ahead of polls

Financial markets are braced for a rocky ride next week if voters in France and Greece strike a blow against the centrally imposed deficit targets that have been at the heart of Europe's response to the debt crisis over the past two year Rising unemployment and plunging business confidence in the euro area revealed the increasingly fragile state of the region's economy on Wednesday, as voters in France and Greece prepare to deliver their verdict on austerity in Sunday elections. Official figures showed that unemployment across the 17-member single currency zone increased by 169,000 in March, for the 11th consecutive month, to hit 17.37m. The unemployment rate was 10.9%, the highest level in its history. Even in Germany, which has so far largely escaped unscathed from the downturn sweep of the labour market, unemployment began to tick up in March, though it remained at just 5.6% of the workforce. There was also evidence that businesses are being hit by what many analysts expect ...
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European debt crisis: 29 November 2011

Italians raise 7.5bn at more than 7% Euro group meeting to hammer out details of bailout fund Will they? Won't they? S&P mulls France downgrade Today's agenda Lunchtime round-up 7.38pm: Time to go. Good night and thanks for all your comments. 7.35pm: Reuters is reporting, citing an EU diplomat, that eurozone finance ministers agreed to release an 8bn aid payment to Greece which is part of the 110bn bailout package. It is the sixth instalment of loans. 6.49pm: This just in from David Gow : Eurozone officials are ignoring the doomsayers and talking up prospects for the EFSF, claiming that investors are still showing keen interest in it. None, apparently, has asked for more than 30% first-loss guarantee on their investment in loans to distressed countries - and the geographical spread is good. It's also claimed that the spread of investors, from hedge funds to sovereign wealth funds, is excellent. And, in a new twist, the investments could be tailored both to indiv...
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As China Rolls Ahead, Fear Follows

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As China Rolls Ahead, Fear Follows - China kept economy growing in past couple of years by printing money. Now it's feeling consequences. Inflation in consumer prices, speculative bubble in property. Milk dearer in Shanghai than in New York Agence France-Presse — Getty Images China is looking to restructure its economy away from dependence on exports like textiles. For nearly two years, China’s turbocharged economy has raced ahead with the aid of a huge government stimulus program and aggressive lending by state-run banks. But a growing number of economists now worry that China — the world’s fastest growing economy and a pillar of strength during the global financial crisis — could be stalled next year by soaring inflation, mounting government debt and asset bubbles. Two credit ratings agencies, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings , say China is still poised for growth, yet they have also recently warned about hidden risks in its banking system. Fitch even hinted at the ...
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