2007-03-02 15:03:48

Kirchner lauds economic recovery

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentine President Nestor Kirchner trumpeted

his government’s performance on the economy and human rights during his

state-of-the-nation address, and also defended his ties to Venezuelan leftist

Hugo Chavez.

2007-03-02 14:44:40

Austria’s budget deficit to decrease to 1.12 pct of GDP in 2007 - minister

VIENNA (AFX) - The Austrian coalition government plans to reduce the budget

deficit to 1.12 pct of gross domestic product in 2007 from 1.2 pct in 2006 and

then to 0.88 pct for the following year.

2007-03-02 14:02:45

Czech public finances ‘an obstacle’ to adopting the euro - central bank official

PRAGUE (AFX) - The current state of the Czech Republic’s finances is an

obstacle to the country switching to the euro, a top official at the Czech

central bank (CNB) said.

2007-03-02 13:29:44

Indian inflation falls to 6.05 pct vs 6.63 previous week

NEW DELHI (AFX) - India’s inflation rate has fallen by over half a

percentage point, helped by cheaper food and fuel, official data showed today,

easing pressure on the government.

2007-03-02 11:15:27

Polish economy grows 6.4 pct in fourth quarter

WARSAW (AFX) - Poland’s gross domestic product grew by 6.4 pct in the fourth

quarter of last year on a 12-month comparison, official data showed.

2007-03-02 11:15:13

Estonia Jan industrial output up 7 pct up yr-on-yr, down 1 pct vs Dec

TALLINN - Estonia’s industrial output in January rose 7 pct from a year

earlier but fell 1 pct from December, BNS news service reported, citing the

Statistical Office.

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2007-03-01 15:21:01

UN officials discuss digital divide

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) - Officials from the United Nations met with

Silicon Valley executives to discuss the “digital divide” — the growing gap

between the world’s wealthiest and most computer literate people and the

impoverished masses without Internet access.

2007-03-01 15:20:00

Personal incomes rise, construction down

WASHINGTON (AP) - Personal incomes rose in January at the fastest clip in a

year, bolstered by bonus payments to high-income executives, but construction

activity fell sharply as the nation’s housing industry continued to suffer

through tough times.

2007-03-01 15:10:33

U.S. manufacturing expanded in February

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation’s manufacturing sector expanded in February,

reversing the prior month’s contraction, a trade group said Thursday.

2007-03-01 15:06:15

US Jan construction spending down 0.8 pct as home building falls for 10th month

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Overall construction spending fell twice as fast as

expected in January as home building fell for the tenth straight month to its

lowest level in two and a half years, the Commerce Department said today.

2007-03-01 15:03:24

U.S. manufacturing expands in February

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in February, a

reversal from the month before.

2007-03-01 14:28:44

Polish trade deficit increases 34.6 pct to 12.45 bln eur in 2006

WARSAW (AFX) - Poland’s trade deficit reached 12.45 bln eur in 2006, an

increase of 34.6 pct from 9.25 bln a year earlier, the national statistics

office said.

2007-03-01 13:31:27

US January personal incomes up 1.0 pct, largest rise in a year

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Personal incomes in the US rose at their fastest pace in

a year, and twice as fast as consumer spending, as year-end bonuses and

government pay rises provided a one-off boost, the Commerce Department said

today.

2007-03-01 11:43:56

Greek Q4 GDP growth 4.3 pct yr-on-yr on final demand of 5.2 pct

ATHENS (AFX) - Greece’s fourth-quarter GDP growth came in at 4.3 pct

year-on-year on the back of robust final demand of 5.2 pct, which is down from

the third quarter growth figure of 4.4 pct, the National Statistical Service of

Greece said.

2007-03-01 11:42:27

UK retailers set to push up prices over coming 3 months - CBI

LONDON (AFX) - The balance of UK retailers who expect to push through prices

rises in the coming three months is at the highest level in eight years, the

UK’s leading business lobby group said today.

2007-03-01 11:16:15

Italy 2006 unadjusted GDP up 1.9 pct yr-on-yr; public deficit 4.4 pct of GDP

ROME (AFX) - Italy’s GDP, unadjusted to the number of working days, rose 1.9

pct year-on-year in 2006 compared with a 0.1 pct rise in 2005, according to the

statistics office ISTAT.

2007-03-01 10:42:27

Forex - Pound rises as UK manufacturing PMI jumps to highest since July 2004

LONDON (AFX) - The pound rose as a key survey on UK manufacturing activity

jumped unexpectedly to its highest level since July 2004, adding to the weight

of evidence suggesting that the Bank of England will raise interest rates again

soon.

2007-03-01 10:19:48

UK Jan net mortgage lending 9.6 bln stg, lowest since September - BoE

LONDON (AFX) - The impact of the Bank of England’s surprise interest rate

increase in the early part of January on the UK’s mortgage market appears to be

mixed, as figures from the central bank showed lending down sharply but

approvals higher.

2007-03-01 10:14:23

Euro zone Feb prov HICP up 1.8 pct, unchanged vs Jan

BRUSSELS (AFX) - The euro zone harmonised index of consumer prices rose a

provisional 1.8 pct year-on-year in Feburary, unchanged from January’s inflation

rate, EU statistics office Eurostat said.

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2007-03-02 15:03:48

Kirchner lauds economic recovery

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentine President Nestor Kirchner trumpeted

his government’s performance on the economy and human rights during his

state-of-the-nation address, and also defended his ties to Venezuelan leftist

Hugo Chavez.

2007-03-02 14:44:40

Austria’s budget deficit to decrease to 1.12 pct of GDP in 2007 - minister

VIENNA (AFX) - The Austrian coalition government plans to reduce the budget

deficit to 1.12 pct of gross domestic product in 2007 from 1.2 pct in 2006 and

then to 0.88 pct for the following year.

2007-03-02 14:02:45

Czech public finances ‘an obstacle’ to adopting the euro - central bank official

PRAGUE (AFX) - The current state of the Czech Republic’s finances is an

obstacle to the country switching to the euro, a top official at the Czech

central bank (CNB) said.

2007-03-02 13:29:44

Indian inflation falls to 6.05 pct vs 6.63 previous week

NEW DELHI (AFX) - India’s inflation rate has fallen by over half a

percentage point, helped by cheaper food and fuel, official data showed today,

easing pressure on the government.

2007-03-02 11:15:27

Polish economy grows 6.4 pct in fourth quarter

WARSAW (AFX) - Poland’s gross domestic product grew by 6.4 pct in the fourth

quarter of last year on a 12-month comparison, official data showed.

2007-03-02 11:15:13

Estonia Jan industrial output up 7 pct up yr-on-yr, down 1 pct vs Dec

TALLINN - Estonia’s industrial output in January rose 7 pct from a year

earlier but fell 1 pct from December, BNS news service reported, citing the

Statistical Office.

For more information and to contact AFX: www.afxnews.com and www.afxpress.com

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2007-03-01 15:21:01

UN officials discuss digital divide

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) - Officials from the United Nations met with

Silicon Valley executives to discuss the “digital divide” — the growing gap

between the world’s wealthiest and most computer literate people and the

impoverished masses without Internet access.

2007-03-01 15:20:00

Personal incomes rise, construction down

WASHINGTON (AP) - Personal incomes rose in January at the fastest clip in a

year, bolstered by bonus payments to high-income executives, but construction

activity fell sharply as the nation’s housing industry continued to suffer

through tough times.

2007-03-01 15:10:33

U.S. manufacturing expanded in February

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation’s manufacturing sector expanded in February,

reversing the prior month’s contraction, a trade group said Thursday.

2007-03-01 15:06:15

US Jan construction spending down 0.8 pct as home building falls for 10th month

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Overall construction spending fell twice as fast as

expected in January as home building fell for the tenth straight month to its

lowest level in two and a half years, the Commerce Department said today.

2007-03-01 15:03:24

U.S. manufacturing expands in February

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in February, a

reversal from the month before.

2007-03-01 14:28:44

Polish trade deficit increases 34.6 pct to 12.45 bln eur in 2006

WARSAW (AFX) - Poland’s trade deficit reached 12.45 bln eur in 2006, an

increase of 34.6 pct from 9.25 bln a year earlier, the national statistics

office said.

2007-03-01 13:31:27

US January personal incomes up 1.0 pct, largest rise in a year

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Personal incomes in the US rose at their fastest pace in

a year, and twice as fast as consumer spending, as year-end bonuses and

government pay rises provided a one-off boost, the Commerce Department said

today.

2007-03-01 11:43:56

Greek Q4 GDP growth 4.3 pct yr-on-yr on final demand of 5.2 pct

ATHENS (AFX) - Greece’s fourth-quarter GDP growth came in at 4.3 pct

year-on-year on the back of robust final demand of 5.2 pct, which is down from

the third quarter growth figure of 4.4 pct, the National Statistical Service of

Greece said.

2007-03-01 11:42:27

UK retailers set to push up prices over coming 3 months - CBI

LONDON (AFX) - The balance of UK retailers who expect to push through prices

rises in the coming three months is at the highest level in eight years, the

UK’s leading business lobby group said today.

2007-03-01 11:16:15

Italy 2006 unadjusted GDP up 1.9 pct yr-on-yr; public deficit 4.4 pct of GDP

ROME (AFX) - Italy’s GDP, unadjusted to the number of working days, rose 1.9

pct year-on-year in 2006 compared with a 0.1 pct rise in 2005, according to the

statistics office ISTAT.

2007-03-01 10:42:27

Forex - Pound rises as UK manufacturing PMI jumps to highest since July 2004

LONDON (AFX) - The pound rose as a key survey on UK manufacturing activity

jumped unexpectedly to its highest level since July 2004, adding to the weight

of evidence suggesting that the Bank of England will raise interest rates again

soon.

2007-03-01 10:19:48

UK Jan net mortgage lending 9.6 bln stg, lowest since September - BoE

LONDON (AFX) - The impact of the Bank of England’s surprise interest rate

increase in the early part of January on the UK’s mortgage market appears to be

mixed, as figures from the central bank showed lending down sharply but

approvals higher.

2007-03-01 10:14:23

Euro zone Feb prov HICP up 1.8 pct, unchanged vs Jan

BRUSSELS (AFX) - The euro zone harmonised index of consumer prices rose a

provisional 1.8 pct year-on-year in Feburary, unchanged from January’s inflation

rate, EU statistics office Eurostat said.

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2007-03-02 15:03:48

Kirchner lauds economic recovery

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentine President Nestor Kirchner trumpeted

his government’s performance on the economy and human rights during his

state-of-the-nation address, and also defended his ties to Venezuelan leftist

Hugo Chavez.

2007-03-02 14:44:40

Austria’s budget deficit to decrease to 1.12 pct of GDP in 2007 - minister

VIENNA (AFX) - The Austrian coalition government plans to reduce the budget

deficit to 1.12 pct of gross domestic product in 2007 from 1.2 pct in 2006 and

then to 0.88 pct for the following year.

2007-03-02 14:02:45

Czech public finances ‘an obstacle’ to adopting the euro - central bank official

PRAGUE (AFX) - The current state of the Czech Republic’s finances is an

obstacle to the country switching to the euro, a top official at the Czech

central bank (CNB) said.

2007-03-02 13:29:44

Indian inflation falls to 6.05 pct vs 6.63 previous week

NEW DELHI (AFX) - India’s inflation rate has fallen by over half a

percentage point, helped by cheaper food and fuel, official data showed today,

easing pressure on the government.

2007-03-02 11:15:27

Polish economy grows 6.4 pct in fourth quarter

WARSAW (AFX) - Poland’s gross domestic product grew by 6.4 pct in the fourth

quarter of last year on a 12-month comparison, official data showed.

2007-03-02 11:15:13

Estonia Jan industrial output up 7 pct up yr-on-yr, down 1 pct vs Dec

TALLINN - Estonia’s industrial output in January rose 7 pct from a year

earlier but fell 1 pct from December, BNS news service reported, citing the

Statistical Office.

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2007-02-28 15:24:29

Economy grows at 2.2 percent

WASHINGTON (AP) - The economy grew at a sluggish 2.2 percent pace in the

final quarter of last year, the government reported Wednesday in one of the

steepest downward revisions in years. In another report, new-home sales plunged

in January by the largest amount in 13 years.

2007-02-28 15:05:36

La Nina’s brewing, forecasters warn

WASHINGTON (AP) - Forecasters warned that a La Nina weather pattern — the

nasty flip side of El Nino — is brewing, bringing with it the threat of more

hurricanes for the Atlantic.

2007-02-28 13:49:26

Slovenian inflation at 2.1 pct in February, down 0.2 points on Jan

LJUBLJANA (AFX) - Slovenian consumer prices fell by 0.2 pct in February from

January but rose by 2.1 pct on a 12-month basis, the national statistics office

said.

2007-02-28 13:14:05

Brazil 2006 GDP rises 2.9 pct vs 2.3 pct in 2005

SAO PAOLO (AFX) - Brazil’s gross domestic product grew 2.9 pct in 2006, up

from 2.3 pct a year earlier but below that of other large emerging markets,

according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

2007-02-28 12:48:02

Ahead of the Bell: GDP

NEW YORK (AP) - The Commerce Department is expected to report early

Wednesday the U.S. economy didn’t expand as much as people previously thought.

2007-02-28 12:19:38

Ahead of the Bell: New Home Sales

NEW YORK (AP) - The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce on Wednesday

will release its report on sales of new homes, which slumped from July 2005

through 2006, but gained four out of the last five months. Economists expect the

Commerce Department to report a 3 percent decline for January, according to

briefing.com.

2007-02-28 11:34:15

UK Feb consumer confidence index down 1 point to -8 - GfK/NOP

LONDON (AFX) - Consumer confidence fell slightly in February as Britons

became more pessimistic about the UK’s general economic situation, a leading

pollster found today.

2007-02-28 11:30:22

Bundesbank chief signals further ECB rate rises

FRANKFURT (AFX) - Bundesbank president Axel Weber signalled that the

European Central Bank was

set to further raise its key interest rates, which are already at a five-year

high point.

2007-02-28 11:21:23

Bundesbank chief signals further ECB rate rise

FRANKFURT (AFX) - Bundesbank president Axel Weber said that the European

Central Bank is set to further raise its key interest rates, which are already

at a five-year high point.

2007-02-28 11:17:20

Lithuania GDP growth 7.5 pct in 2006, up 6.9 pct in Q4

VILNIUS (AFX) - Lithuania’s GDP grew by 7.5 pct in 2006 compared with the

previous year, BNS newswire reported, citing the Statistics Department.

2007-02-28 11:04:31

Slovakian HICP slows down to 2.2% in January

Bratislava (AFX) - The year-on-year inflation rate in Slovakia measured by

the European Union’s harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) reached 2.2% in

January, down 1.5 percentage points year on year.

2007-02-28 11:01:08

Hong Kong govt 10 mths to Jan surplus 42.9 bln hkd

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - The Hong Kong government said it recorded a fiscal

surplus of 37.1 bln hkd in the month of January, resulting in a 10-month to

January net surplus of 42.9 bln hkd.

2007-02-28 10:58:43

Swiss Feb KOF economic indicator up at 1.79 points, at upper-end of forecasts

said its economic barometer rose to 1.79 points in Feb, from a revised 1.74

points in Jan and 1.75 in Dec.

2007-02-28 10:50:58

Hungary Nov-Jan unemployment 7.5 pct, unchanged vs Oct-Dec

PARIS (AFX) - Hungary’s unemployment rate was 7.5 pct for the three months

from November 2006 to January 2007, unchanged from the October-December 2006

period, the central statistics bureau KSH said.

2007-02-28 10:48:37

Austria Dec industrial output up 1.5 pct from Nov, up 13 pct yr-on-yr

VIENNA (AFX) - Industrial production increased 1.5 pct on month in December,

compared with 0.6 pct in November, according to the Austrian statistics agency,

Statistik Austria.

2007-02-28 10:41:23

Hong Kong Jan M1 money supply down 0.7 pct mth-on-mth, up 13.1 pct yr-on-yr

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Hong Kong’s M1 money supply in January fell 0.7 pct

from December, but was up 13.1 pct from a year earlier, the Hong Kong Monetary

Authority (HKMA) said.

2007-02-28 10:33:59

ECB’s Stark continues to see price risks in euro area

FRANKFURT (AFX) - European Central Bank board member Juergen Stark told Die

Welt although Euro zone inflation will probably slow this year, medium-term

price developments remain a concern.

2007-02-28 10:22:54

Hong Kong’s 2007-08 budget extends trend of fiscal discipline - S&P

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Hong Kong’s budget for the year to March 2008 extends

the trend of fiscal discipline evident in recent years, Standard & Poor’s

Ratings Services said.

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2007-03-01 15:21:01

UN officials discuss digital divide

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) - Officials from the United Nations met with

Silicon Valley executives to discuss the “digital divide” — the growing gap

between the world’s wealthiest and most computer literate people and the

impoverished masses without Internet access.

2007-03-01 15:20:00

Personal incomes rise, construction down

WASHINGTON (AP) - Personal incomes rose in January at the fastest clip in a

year, bolstered by bonus payments to high-income executives, but construction

activity fell sharply as the nation’s housing industry continued to suffer

through tough times.

2007-03-01 15:10:33

U.S. manufacturing expanded in February

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation’s manufacturing sector expanded in February,

reversing the prior month’s contraction, a trade group said Thursday.

2007-03-01 15:06:15

US Jan construction spending down 0.8 pct as home building falls for 10th month

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Overall construction spending fell twice as fast as

expected in January as home building fell for the tenth straight month to its

lowest level in two and a half years, the Commerce Department said today.

2007-03-01 15:03:24

U.S. manufacturing expands in February

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in February, a

reversal from the month before.

2007-03-01 14:28:44

Polish trade deficit increases 34.6 pct to 12.45 bln eur in 2006

WARSAW (AFX) - Poland’s trade deficit reached 12.45 bln eur in 2006, an

increase of 34.6 pct from 9.25 bln a year earlier, the national statistics

office said.

2007-03-01 13:31:27

US January personal incomes up 1.0 pct, largest rise in a year

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Personal incomes in the US rose at their fastest pace in

a year, and twice as fast as consumer spending, as year-end bonuses and

government pay rises provided a one-off boost, the Commerce Department said

today.

2007-03-01 11:43:56

Greek Q4 GDP growth 4.3 pct yr-on-yr on final demand of 5.2 pct

ATHENS (AFX) - Greece’s fourth-quarter GDP growth came in at 4.3 pct

year-on-year on the back of robust final demand of 5.2 pct, which is down from

the third quarter growth figure of 4.4 pct, the National Statistical Service of

Greece said.

2007-03-01 11:42:27

UK retailers set to push up prices over coming 3 months - CBI

LONDON (AFX) - The balance of UK retailers who expect to push through prices

rises in the coming three months is at the highest level in eight years, the

UK’s leading business lobby group said today.

2007-03-01 11:16:15

Italy 2006 unadjusted GDP up 1.9 pct yr-on-yr; public deficit 4.4 pct of GDP

ROME (AFX) - Italy’s GDP, unadjusted to the number of working days, rose 1.9

pct year-on-year in 2006 compared with a 0.1 pct rise in 2005, according to the

statistics office ISTAT.

2007-03-01 10:42:27

Forex - Pound rises as UK manufacturing PMI jumps to highest since July 2004

LONDON (AFX) - The pound rose as a key survey on UK manufacturing activity

jumped unexpectedly to its highest level since July 2004, adding to the weight

of evidence suggesting that the Bank of England will raise interest rates again

soon.

2007-03-01 10:19:48

UK Jan net mortgage lending 9.6 bln stg, lowest since September - BoE

LONDON (AFX) - The impact of the Bank of England’s surprise interest rate

increase in the early part of January on the UK’s mortgage market appears to be

mixed, as figures from the central bank showed lending down sharply but

approvals higher.

2007-03-01 10:14:23

Euro zone Feb prov HICP up 1.8 pct, unchanged vs Jan

BRUSSELS (AFX) - The euro zone harmonised index of consumer prices rose a

provisional 1.8 pct year-on-year in Feburary, unchanged from January’s inflation

rate, EU statistics office Eurostat said.

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