AFP - The euro sank to its lowest level against the dollar this year on Thursday after the European Central Bank cut its eurozone growth forecasts, adding to gloom surrounding the European economy.

Reuters - Global equities stabilized on Thursday after hitting a two-year low while the dollar trimmed recent gains ahead of European interest rate decisions and the British pound touched a trade-weighted 12-year low.

AFP - German fertiliser group K+S will join the DAX 30 index of blue-chip stocks, reflecting its growing business as prices for commodities and foods rise globally.

AFP - The economy of the 15 nations sharing the euro contracted in the second quarter for the first time since the bloc was formed in 1999, according to a second official EU estimate on Wednesday.

Reuters - Major economies on both sides of the Atlantic are increasingly vulnerable to each other's weakness, as the euro zone teeters on the brink of recession while the United States is barely muddling through, data showed on Wednesday.

AFP - London shares closed sharply lower on Wednesday amid ongoing concerns over the state of the UK economy.

AFP - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday Moscow no longer considered Mikheil Saakashvili as Georgia's leader, calling him a "political corpse" and accusing his regime of "aggression that ended in many deaths."

AP - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia will respond calmly to an increase in NATO ships in the Black Sea in the aftermath of the short war with Georgia, but promised that "there will be an answer."

AFP - The euro on Monday fell below 1.45 dollars for the first time since February as the market anticipated lower interest rates in the eurozone, with inflation concerns easing amid tumbling oil prices.

AFP - Moscow claimed victory Tuesday after EU leaders stepped back from imposing sanctions over Russia's partial occupation of neighbouring Georgia.

AP - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia will respond calmly to an increase in NATO ships in the Black Sea in the aftermath of the short war with Georgia, but promised that "there will be an answer."

AFP - London shares made gains as crude-oil futures fell Tuesday.

AP - European Union leaders warned Russia on Monday that talks on a wide-ranging political and economic agreement would be postponed unless Russian troops pull back from positions in Georgia.