The eurozone crisis should steal the show this week, while in SA the Reserve Bank is considering interest rates, and inflation is in the spotlight.
A summit of the G8 nations on Saturday came down in favour of a push to balance European austerity with a new dose of US-style stimulus.
The volatile rand again bore the brunt of global risk-off trading and weakened to R8.37 against the dollar this week, its lowest level this year.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says her party’s loss is a "bitter defeat" but stressed it has no bearing on her belt-tightening policy in Europe.
The European executive has responded to electoral earthquakes in France and Greece by calling for a shift towards growth across the European Union.
The IMF has issued a call to bickering US politicians, urging them to solve the country’s debt problems before the vulnerable economy is tipped over.
Brussels has condemned Spain for planning to go against European Commission rules and not focus on its targets.
Finance ministers are piling the pressure on Greece to make good on pledges to slash public spending before closing a deal on a €130-billion bailout.
Greek coalition leaders failed to reach a deal on austerity cuts after marathon talks but Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is hopeful of an agreement.
Talks appear to be stalling between EU, IMF negotiators and Greek officials.
Italy has scraped through a key bond auction test but Prime Minister Mario Monti has called for a European-wide response to the debt crisis.
A European summit deal to strengthen budget discipline in the eurozone failed to restore financial confidence, forcing the ECB to step in again.
Europe has divided in a historic rift with a majority of countries led by Germany and France moving ahead with a treaty, leaving Britain isolated.
A confidential paper, circulated by European Council president Herman Van Rompuy, proposes empowering the commission to impose austerity measures.
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/ 5 December 2011
Hopes are high that European leaders may finally agree on a plan to address the continent’s debt crisis at a make-or-break gathering on Friday.
The leader of the Greek far-right nationalist party Laos says he will support Prime Minister Lucas Papademos until the government’s work is completed.
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/ 26 November 2011
As the debt crisis makes itself felt across central and Eastern Europe, Austrian banks — heavily exposed to the region — are getting nervous.
The EU is headed for Rome for talks as the Italian treasury launches a €10-billion bond sale to try to stem the nation’s debt crisis.
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/ 24 November 2011
Portugal’s workers have gone on strike in protest against harsh austerity measures imposed on the country for a bailout from the EU and IMF.
The eurozone crisis poses a serious threat to the SA economy, President Jacob Zuma says, and it will take a collective effort to cushion the country.
The German economy has shown signs of strain and raised fears across world financial markets that Europe is far from containing its crisis.
Europe has started down a road to far-reaching legal changes that would see the EU police budgets before they pass domestic lawmakers.
Greece’s Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has headed to Brussels to fight for the aid Athens needs to avoid bankruptcy.
Angela Merkel and David Cameron are due to kiss and make up after ‘selfish’ London made comments about Germany being bossy about the euro crisis.
Prime Minister Mario Monti has unveiled an ambitious economic crisis plan with reforms aimed at appeasing global leaders and financial markets.
Shareholders of Eurobank and Alpha Bank have approved a merger plan designed to create Greece’s largest lender with major backing from a Qatari fund.