Global Economy
  • Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) arrives at Democratic Party caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/ File Photo

    Factbox: What happens in a U.S. government shutdown?

    By Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker, Reuters

    In shutdowns, nonessential government employees are furloughed, or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety and national security, keep...

  • FILE PHOTO: Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 12, 2017.   REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

    No Talk of Ousting Speaker Ryan, Key Conservative Says

    By Reuters

    Many Republicans are unhappy with the deal President Donald Trump reached last week with Democratic leaders to raise the government's debt ceiling and allow it to continue financing federal spending...

  • Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro waves during a pro-government rally with workers of state-run oil company PDVSA, in Barcelona

    The Crisis in Venezuela Could Send Oil Prices Soaring

    By Nick Cunningham, Oilprice.com

    Venezuela’s deteriorating crisis is “going to be the biggest geopolitical story to watch in the oil markets," according to Helima Croft of RBC Capital Markets. The economic, political and security...

  • FILE PHOTO: Arellano, deputy of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), clashes with national guards during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas

    The Risk That Could Drive Oil Prices Higher in a Hurry

    By Nick Cunningham, Oilprice.com

    The latest rally in oil prices ran up against a wall yet again, and the same fears about oversupply have not receded in the slightest. The expectation from most oil analysts is that there is very...

  • Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement 'En Marche!', or 'Onwards!', and candidate for the 2017 presidential election, delivers a speech as he attends a meeting for Women's day in Paris, France

    France Just Made a Big Move Toward a Green Energy Future

    By Bate Felix and Simon Carraud, Reuters

    France aims to end the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040 and become carbon neutral 10 years later, Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot said on Thursday at a presentation of measures to keep up...

  • Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks at a news conference in Auckland November 14, 2014. REUTERS/Nigel Marple

    Merkel urges Europeans to speed up TTIP trade talks with U.S.

    By Reuters

    Speaking a news conference in Sydney following the Group of 20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, Merkel said the EU should negotiate in a "speedy and determined" way with the U.S. to complete the trade...

  • We’re Paying for the Chocolate Deficit

    By Roberto A. Ferdman, The Washington Post

    There's no easy way to say this: You're eating too much chocolate, all of you. And it's getting so out of hand that the world could be headed towards a potentially disastrous (if you love chocolate...

  • Drop in Gas Prices Should Continue to Show Up in Economy

    By Patti Domm, CNBC

    Stocks could keep up their slow march higher in the coming week as energy and the consumer remain top themes for the economy and markets. There is an important stream of economic reports, including...

  • FILE PHOTO: The logo of Swiss bank UBS is pictured on a building in Zug October 17, 2008.  REUTERS/Michael Buholzer

    Euro zone's troubles, gold vote test Swiss central bank

    By Alice Baghdjian and Silke Koltrowitz, Reuters

    ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank faces the biggest test of its cap on the franc in two years but may find it easier to defend now than when euro zone breakup fears were rampant and the...

  • A former colleague of U.S. aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, is seen on a projection screen as he speaks from Sweden during a news conference calling for Kassig's release in Tripoli, northern Lebanon November 8, 2014.     REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim

    UK says analyzing Islamic State hostage beheading video

    By Mariam Karouny, Reuters

    "We are aware of a further video and are analyzing its contents. If true this is a further disgusting murder," the spokeswoman said. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Mark Potter)