Euro

Luxury car sales touched 51K units for first time in 2024

The ECB has been easing policy as inflation worries largely evaporate and the debate shifts to whether it is cutting rates fast enough to support an economy that is lagging global peers

Even before the French and German governments collapsed, Europe's economy had enough difficulties. Tepid growth and lagging competitiveness versus the US and China. An auto industry that's struggling. Where to find billions for defense against Russia? And now Donald Trump threatening tariffs. Solutions will be harder to find while the two countries that make up almost half of the eurozone economy remain stuck in political paralysis well into 2025. Where once there was the so-called French-German axis to push Europe ahead, now there's a vacuum. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned Thursday after losing a vote of confidence, and while President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a successor, the new head of government will lack a majority. Elections are not constitutionally permitted until at least June. Germany's coalition led by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats fractured in November, triggering an early election on Feb. 23.

Bitcoin, world's best known cryptocurrency, has been on a tear since November on expectations that Donald Trump's US election win will usher in a friendly regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies

The dollar received some support overnight from better-than-expected U.S. manufacturing data, which also showed a mitigation in price increases

Money transfer facility's expansion could be achieved through bilateral or multilateral arrangements

The minutes of the Fed's July meeting, due on Wednesday, and Powell's speech on Friday are likely to be the main currency drivers in a week that will also see inflation data from Canada and Japan

With global markets lined up for quick-fire US rate cuts, the ECB signalled heightened concerns about volatile inflation, helping to sustain an upward shift for the euro

Over the longer term Spain has a more impressive track record, too, with three European crowns. England has never been victorious

Dutch fans came to the stadium in a rousing march, 100,000 strong. It will feel like a long journey home. When Ollie Watkins' added-time goal sealed a 2-1 win for England over the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semifinals on Wednesday, it ended the orange-clad Dutch fans' dream of a first European Championship title since 1988. A great goal, but then it's over, and that's difficult to accept, Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said. The journey home will not be without some bitterness after a hotly disputed penalty decision in England's favor after Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries made contact with Harry Kane while trying to block a shot. In my opinion this should not have been a penalty, Koeman said through an interpreter. "I think that we cannot play properly football and this is due to VAR. It really breaks football. Until the penalty call that put England firmly back in the game, it had been a party atmosphere for the Dutch fans. The towering South Stand famed as a Yellow Wall for

Three Lions will face the mighty Spain in the final match of the prestigious tournament on Sunday at the Olympiastadion

Late bloomer Michael Folorunsho hadn't even played in Italy's top division this time last year. Now he's representing Italy at the European Championship. The 26-year-old Folorunsho made his tournament debut Saturday as a stoppage-time substitute in Italy's opening 2-1 win over Albania. It's a dream turned reality for the player who only made his Serie A debut last August. I think it was inconceivable 12 months ago, Folorunsho said Wednesday. I don't think I could have ever imagined that a year on, I'd be playing at the European Championship. Folorunsho, an attack-minded midfielder, scored five goals for Hella Verona last season after joining the team on loan from Napoli. He played more league games, 34, than any other outfield player on the team. Physically strong, combative and versatile, Folorunsho has a powerful strike and is good in the air, too. I never stopped dreaming. But that now drives me forward because once you get to a certain level, that's when the going gets really

Defending champion Italy plays Spain on Thursday in one of the most anticipated games at Euro 2024. Spain leads Group B ahead of Italy on goal difference after both teams won their opening games. Croatia and Albania are the other teams in the group. Kick-off is at 9 pm local (1900 GMT) in Gelsenkirchen. Here's what to know about the match: Match facts Italy survived a scare against Albania when Nedim Bajrami scored after 23 seconds - the fastest goal in Euros history. A 2-1 come-from-behind win avoided embarrassment for Luciano Spalletti's team. There were no such concerns for Spain after a dominant 3-0 win against World Cup semi-finalist Croatia. Italy beat Spain on penalties in the semi-finals of the last Euros after a 1-1 draw through extra time at Wembley Stadium. The team, then coached by Roberto Mancini, also needed penalties to beat England in the final. Build up to the last game in Gelsenkirchen - Serbia vs. England - had been overshadowed by concerns about fan violence.

There was also talk the People's Bank of China (PBOC) could cut a key lending rate by 10 basis points, in part due to surprisingly weak bank lending data released on Friday

The euro fell by as much as 0.6 per cent to a one-month low of $1.0733 and hit a 21-month trough against sterling of 84.49 pence

World stocks were mostly lower on Monday after a US jobs report released Friday came in hotter than expected, while the euro fell after French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly following a setback in Sunday's parliamentary election. Far-right parties made major gains in parliamentary elections Sunday, leading French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap election. This caused the euro to drop to its lowest price in nearly a month. The euro was trading at $1.0766, down from $1.0778. The setbacks for incumbent parties cast a shadow across the region. The CAC 40 in Paris sank 1.7% to 7,866.87 and Germany's DAX lost 0.7% to 18,425.26. Britain's FTSE 100 declined 0.4% to 8,215.84 in early trading. The future for the S&P 500 shed 0.1% and that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.2%. Markets in Asia ended mixed. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index rose 0.9% to 39,038.16 after government data on Monday showed Japan's economy contracted at an annualized ...

Despite a series of recent setbacks, far-right parties are aiming for electoral gains that could bring migration to the top of the political agenda and complicate progress on the EU's climate goals

The shifting Fed expectations lifted oil prices and dragged Treasury yields to their lowest in two months after data this week hinted the US labour market was easing

After that excitement, however, the yen last traded flat on the day at 148.0 per dollar, having been as weak as 148.6 and as strong as 146.9