UK unemployment edges down in January quarter (AP) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:56:40 GMT AP - Unemployment in Britain dropped to 7.8 percent in the three months through January from the previous quarter's 7.9 percent, the first such decline since May 2008 as the economy emerged from recession, official statistics showed Wednesday.

EU tells Britain to cut deficit faster (AP) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:56:00 GMT Italy's Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti, center, talks with Britain's counterpart Alistair Darling, left, and Tonio Fenech of Malta, right, at the EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels, Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Finance ministers of the 27 EU nations review Greek austerity measures and other financial regulations reform to ease the financial crisis. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

BMW sees economic crisis past lowest point (AP) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:54:38 GMT BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer drinks a glas of water during the company's annual balance conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. German auto group BMW AG says the economic crisis has probably reached its lowest point and that its car market could see growth in a single-digit percentage range in 2010. BMW said Wednesday net profit for the whole of 2009 fell 3 b50 7 percent to 204 million euros (US dlrs 282 million) from 324 million euro in 2008. Revenue for the year fell nearly 4 percent to 51 billioneuro from 53 billion euro in 2008. The results were in line with preliminary results released earlier this month. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

London stocks rally (AFP) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:24:52 GMT London stocks have risen after bumper gains earlier in Asia, as investors welcomed the US Federal Reserve's upbeat economic outlook.(AFP/File/Shaun Curry)

2 suspects nabbed in Berlin poker heist (AP) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:31:41 GMT File photo of a player sorting his poker chips in Las Vegas. US casinos have run into a string of bad luck as the recession and other factors cut into gambling revenues, even as more states move to get a piece of the action.(AFP/File/Robyn Beck)

Metro 2009 net income falls 7 percent (AP) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:58:17 GMT AP - German retailer Metro AG said Wednesday its 2009 net income fell 7 percent to euro519 million ($716 million) as the economic downturn cut into sales at most divisions, including its Kaufhof department stores and Cash & Carry wholesale outlets.

EU backs Greek austerity as standby aid readied (Reuters) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Tue 11d , 16 Mar 2010 21:48:51 GMT Reuters - EU finance ministers backed plans on Tuesday by countries in the euro area to help debt-stricken Greece financially if it becomes the first state in 11 years of monetary union to seek such aid.

Franco-German spat fuels EU economic debate (AFP) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:22:03 GMT US Commodities and Future Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler addresses the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament at the European Parliament in Brussels, Tuesday March 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Thierry Charlier)

EU hedge fund rules stalled, UK digs in heels (Reuters) EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:54:50 GMT French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde arrives in the meeting room prior to an Eurogroup council on March 15, at the EU headquarters in Brussels. An economic policy dispute between France and Germany threatens to distract the eurozone as it faces fierce competition from Asian rivals, analysts and German media warned Tuesday.(AFP/File/Georges Gobet)

EU Economy News - Yahoo! News - Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:21:35 GMT Reuters - European Union plans to crack down on hedge funds hung in the balance on Tuesday when talks stalled after Britain dug in its heels to head off new rules that could damage its financial center.