European Central Bank

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's new government should take a bold but unpopular step of asking for international financial aid to reform its banks and its economy for the long term, former European Central Bank board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said on Monday....

* Dollar firm after G7 backs Japan's easing efforts * Dollar hits 4-1/2-year highs versus yen * Oil, gold prices fall on dollar's strength * U.S., European stocks stall at recent highs By Richard Leong NEW YORK, May 13 (Reuters) - The dollar...

* Size of banking sector has raised comparisons with Cyprus * But Malta's banking model is seen as more stable * Economy of 450,000 is growing, pace seen accelerating By Martin Santa BRUSSELS, May 13 (Reuters) - Cyprus and Malta have a lot in common:...

Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief Matthew Winkler on Monday apologized for allowing journalists “limited” access to sensitive data about how clients used Bloomberg terminals, calling it  “inexcusable." But he insisted that important...

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Cutting the European Central Bank's deposit rate below zero would be an effective way to help the euro zone economy, ECB policymaker Ignazio Visco was quoted as saying on Monday, sending the euro lower. Taking the deposit rate...

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's finance minister has signaled his opposition to any move by the European Central Bank to buy asset-backed securities to help indebted states, telling his party it would amount to "covert state financing", according to German...

* EBRD governors consider direct lending to small business * Libya seeking advice from EBRD By Carolyn Cohn ISTANBUL, May 11 (Reuters) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering ways to help small businesses in...

(Repeats story to add analysis tag to headline) By Gyles Beckford WELLINGTON, May 10 (Reuters) - In the global currency arena small player New Zealand probably deployed its last best tactic this week - a strategically timed disclosure. The country's...

* MSCI Asia ex-Japan down after recent rally * Nikkei highest since Jan 2008 as yen hits 4-yr low vs dlr * Japan investors buying foreign bonds last two weeks * U.S. attracting funds on brightening growth prospects * European shares seen inching...

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Slovenia pledged to sell 15 state firms and raise VAT on Thursday in a desperate bid to avoid an international bailout, but gave little detail and delayed the spending cuts investors say are needed to stabilize its finances. The...

* UK's Osborne to host two-day meeting of finance ministers * Central bank action to boost world economy high on agenda * Bank regulation and tax avoidance also up for discussion * Some officials question point of meeting just after IMF By David...

* Euro steady against yen after touching more than 3-year high * Aussie skids, pressured after this week's RBA cut By Lisa Twaronite TOKYO, May 10 (Reuters) - The dollar remained at a lofty perch against its Japanese counterpart on Friday, after...