Singapore monitoring new forms of illicit financing
Asian financial hub Singapore on Friday said it was scrutinising trade in virtual currencies such Bitcoin, precious stones and metals to forestall new forms of illicit financing by criminals and terrorists.
12 January 2014 00:09
IMF's Lagarde: uncertainty over health of European banks
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Thursday that questions marks remain over the health of Europe's banks and that coming stress tests are a chance to build confidence in them.
10 January 2014 16:10
China has world's most outbound tourists: report
Nearly 100 million Chinese tourists visited foreign countries last year, and they are likely to extend their lead as the world's biggest-spending travellers, state media reported Thursday.
09 January 2014 15:22
China box office revenue hits $3.6 bn in 2013: report
China's box office takings leaped to $3.6 billion last year, up 27.5 percent on 2012, as nearly 14 screens were added every day to the world's second-largest film market.
Obama signs defense, budget bills into law
President Barack Obama signed into law Thursday the compromise US budget bill recently negotiated by feuding lawmakers and a massive defense measure that takes a step toward ultimate closure of Guantanamo.
Japan OKs record budget, sees deflation threat recede
Japan approved its biggest ever budget Tuesday, as an improving economy and a sales tax hike made room for more defence spending and the first step towards achieving a balanced budget.
EU banking union too complicated, too slow: analysts
An EU system to prevent a repeat of the massive bank bailouts which crippled the economy is a major step but it is also too complicated when speed is absolutely essential, analysts said.
23 December 2013 01:05
Tourists to spend $10 billion during Brazil World Cup
Foreign and Brazilian tourists are expected to spend $10.4 billion during next year's World Cup, more than the public funds invested for staging the event, the Brazilian tourism board said Friday.
Spaniards bet on slimmed-down 'Fat One' Christmas jackpot
Spaniards are digging into their pockets to gamble on their beloved "Fat One" Christmas lottery with the world's richest total payout, but winners will get slimmed-down prizes this year as a new austerity tax takes a bite.
20 December 2013 10:21
EU finance ministers reach banking union deal
EU finance ministers Wednesday reached a banking union accord which will hand Brussels unprecedented new powers to prevent failing banks from wrecking the economy, official sources said.
