AP - Judging from the glamorous parties and store openings in Paris this week, you would be forgiven for thinking the economy is thriving — prompting some observers to say the fashion industry is fiddling while Rome burns.

Reuters - General Motors Corp. (GM) Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said on Thursday he expected U.S. and western European markets to stay weak in the first half of 2009.

Reuters - The chairman of euro zone finance ministers sided with Germany on Thursday in rejecting any need for a European rescue fund for distressed banks, but the Dutch government endorsed a similar idea.

AP - France will host a European financial summit Saturday in Paris, bringing together leaders of four countries to deal with the international financial crisis.

AP - Auto executives agree: their industry is headed into a giant storm.

AP - Conservative Party leader David Cameron pledged Wednesday to prove his ability to revive Britain's faltering economy — but warned he has no miracle cure.

AP - Paris designers whipped up a rainbow burst of colors on Wednesday as an antidote to the economic blues plaguing the luxury industry.

AP - The European Central Bank is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady later Thursday as inflation fears outweigh the growing financial crisis.

AFP - Stocks in FTSE 100 were flat in initial trading on Thursday, gaining 0.08 percent to 4,963.47 points, after the US Senate approved a modified rescue plan for the stricken US financial sector.

AFP - European shares steadied at the start of trading on Thursday after the US Senate approved a modified financial rescue package for the stricken US financial sector.