Business

Economics

The value of home mortgage advances in January fell by half from December, when there was a late rush to complete deals before a tax break ended at the New Year, the Council of Mortgage Lenders said Friday.

The value of home mortgages in January was 4.7 billion pounds ($7.1 billion), down 45 percent from January. Read more...

Greece refused EU aid, next stop the IMF

PARIS (AP) — Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou headed to Paris on Sunday, the third stop of a four-city tour seeking firmer European Union and U.S. support for harsh austerity measures that have sparked violent protests at home.

Athens is adamant that it has done all it can with the new measures to reduce its massive 12.7 percent budget deficit. Read more...

Greece pressures EU with IMF bid

BERLIN (AP) — Who's afraid of the IMF? Greece is betting that the major European Union powers just might be. Read more...

UK debt load divides experts

LONDON (AP) — More than 60 economists have backed the government in a crucial political debate in Britain about how soon and how deeply to cut the nation's ballooning budget deficit.

Markets

European and U.S. stock markets fell modestly Thursday

European and U.S. stock markets fell modestly Thursday amid growing concerns of an overheating Chinese economy and as investors awaited further insight into the state of the U.S. economic recovery.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares closed down 23.31 points, Read more...

Pound takes another battering as polls narrow

LONDON (AP) — The British pound took another battering Friday as investors fretted about the strength of the recovery from recession and about a general election that opinion polls suggest will be closer than previously thought. Read more...

Euro edges back above $1.36

BERLIN (AP) — The euro has regained some of the ground it lost against the dollar last week, climbing to as high as $1.3633 in morning trading in Europe. Read more...

Oil above $80 as traders eye low interest rates

SINGAPORE (AP) — Oil prices rose above $80 a barrel Monday in Asia, extending a three-week rally as investors expect the U.S. central bank to keep interest rates near zero to help fuel economic growth, which would boost crude consumption.

Benchmark crude for March delivery was up 51 cents to $80.32 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract added 75 cents to settle at $79.81 a barrel on Friday. Read more...

Euro steadies at $1.3664

FRANKFURT (AP) — The euro steadied somewhat from a recent decline against the dollar Tuesday, Read more...