Economic News
Spain's constitutional parties agree to apply Article 155 in proportionate and gradual manner
Spain's two main constitutional parties have only managed to reach a partial agreement on modifying the legal trigger for the temporary suspension of Catalonian self-rule should the region's government fail to meet authorities' request that it return to the country's legal framework.
UK real earnings down for first time since 2014
UK real wages fell for the first time in three years as inflation outpaced earnings, according to the Office of National Statistics.
Friday preview: RBS, IAG and Shire results, US GDP later
Friday sees trading updates from Royal Bank of Scotland, British Airways owner IAG and pharma group Shire before attention later turns to the US economy, with readings on national growth and inflation.
Catalan president disappoints again, says he cannot call elections
Contrary to earlier reports, the nationalist leader of the Spanish region of Catalonia did not call for fresh elections, claiming that officials in Madrid were to the blame because they had failed to provide sufficient guarantees regarding the implementation of article 155 of the country's constitution in order to do so and that they had not responded to his offers for dialogue.
Decision to keep asset purchases open-ended was not unanimous, ECB's Draghi says
Rate-setters in Frankfurt cut the size of their asset purchase programme, but in the press conference afterwards the heads of the European Central Bank's governing council sounded a conservative note on the best pace at which to ratchet them down.
Euro falls as ECB cuts and extends asset purchases
The European Central Bank has announced that it will continue to taper its the size of its asset purchase programme, albeit while extending it until September of next year.
US pending home sales flat in September
US pending home sales were flat in September, according to figures from the National Association of Realtors.
Catalan president cancels speech
The president of Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia unexpectedly called off a press conference at the last minute.
US initial jobless claims rise less than expected
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, according to data from the Labor Department.
Catalan president may call fresh elections for 20 December, speech delayed
Catalan president Carles Puigdemont will call fresh general elections for 20 December, according to a local news report.
Bombardier to axe 280 jobs in Belfast amid trade conflict
Canadian manufacturing giant Bombardier has announced the shedding of 280 jobs at its Northern Irish aircraft plant amidst an ongoing trade spat involving rival Boeing.
Ibex 35 jumps as Catalan president said to be leaning towards elections
Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is leaning towards calling regional elections, Madrid-based El Pais reported on Thursday citing sources close to the main nationalist parties.
Retail sales falling at fastest pace since 2009, while wages climb
UK retail sales are tumbling faster than at any time since the height of the financial crisis as industry pay rises faster than the rest of the economy, two industry surveys revealed on Thursday.
German consumer confidence dips in November
Consumer confidence in the euro area's largest economy dipped in November but continued to point towards continued strong growth, the results of a widely-followed survey revealed.
EU competition body to investigate UK tax loophole
European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has turned her attention to the UK, announcing she will investigate whether multinational firms receive unfair tax breaks in the country.
Catalan president argues Madrid's proposed measures are disproportionate
Catalonia's nationalist regional government has alleged before the Spanish Senate that suspending the region's autonomy is an "aberration" which will lead to an "extraordinarily grave" situation, even graver than the one the central government says it is attempting to solve.
Falling UK demand puts brakes on car manufacturing output
UK car manufacturing output has fallen for the fifth month in 2017, driven by double-digit declines in domestic sales.