AP – The German government says strong demand from outside the eurozone helped the country’s industrial orders rise a stronger-than-expected 1.7 percent in December.
China growth could halve if Europe crisis worsens: IMF (Reuters)
Reuters – China’s annual economic growth could be cut nearly in half this year if Europe’s debt crisis tips the world economy into a recession, putting pressure on Beijing to unveil “significant” fiscal stimulus, the International Monetary Fund said.
Tags: debt crisis, economic growth, the International Monetary FundEurope’s debt rose to 82 percent of output at end-Q3 (Reuters)
Reuters – The European Union’s total government debt rose slightly to 82.2 percent of economic output in the third quarter of 2011, the EU’s statistics agency said on Monday, lower than the United States but still a burden that could take decades to pay down.
Tags: the European Union, economic output, government debt, statistics agencyAnalysis: Iran economy could limp along under sanctions (Reuters)
Reuters – Tightening international sanctions against Iran look set to shrink its economy, push up inflation and further erode its currency, but they may fail to deliver a knock-out blow that forces Tehran to compromise on its nuclear ambitions.
Analysis: Euro zone strugglers lack innovative knack (Reuters)
Reuters – To get an idea of the economic mountain euro zone strugglers Greece and Portugal have to climb, consider this: per million inhabitants, they each filed fewer than eight applications with the European Patent Office in 2010.
Tags: euro zone strugglers, European Patent OfficeIMF warns Europe downturn could cut China growth (AP)
AP – A sharp downturn in Europe could cut China’s economic growth rate nearly in half, the International Monetary Fund said Monday, adding to warnings about a possible severe global slowdown this year.
Tags: economic growth rate, the International Monetary Fund, Europe downturnOil near $97 as traders eye Greek debt talks (AP)
AP – Oil prices fell to near $97 a barrel Monday in Asia amid investor concerns about Greek debt talks.
France, German leaders meet amid euro, Syria crises (Reuters)
Reuters – The French and German leaders meet on Monday in Paris for annual talks in which they will seek further economic coordination in the crisis-hit European Union and discuss the escalating violence in Syria.
Tags: german leaders, european union, economic coordinationPolice clear DC Occupy site, protesters look to a new day (Reuters)
Reuters – U.S. police officers cleared tents from an “Occupy” protest site in downtown Washington on Sunday, but demonstrators said even without the camp they would continue to fight for economic equality and other issues.
Tags: economic equality, protest site, police officersObama says he deserves re-election, job’s not done (AP)
AP – President Barack Obama says he deserves re-election, despite the nation’s economic troubles.
Micro Finance project by PALM Foundation,Ampara@Sri Lanka
Growth in priority sctor lending slows to 5% in Dec
Bank lending to the priority sector grew by just 5 per cent on an annualised basis in December, 2011, because of lower offtake in the agriculture and MSME segments, besides a decline in micro credit.
Tags: bank lending