http://myfinnotes.com Economic and Finance Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:04:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The trade deficit in the U.S. probably widened in December to a six-month high as imports climbed faster than exports, economists said a report this week will show. The gap grew to $48.5 billion from the $47.8 billion shortfall in November, according to the median of 61 estimates ... http://myfinnotes.com/trade-gap-in-us-probably-widened-as-imports-increased-more-than-exports-bloomberg/ An unprecedented outflow of New Zealand citizens last year for jobs and better pay in Australia is leaving the nation http://myfinnotes.com/exodus-to-australia-risks-nz-labor-shortage-bloomberg/ Japan http://myfinnotes.com/japan-escalates-warnings-on-yen-appreciation-as-sharps-earnings-collapse-bloomberg/ A group of 25 Chinese taken hostage in Egypt has been freed, but a second group seized in Sudan over the weekend are still being held, state media reported Wednesday. The incidents several days apart reflect the dangers China faces as it pushes more into unstable areas in search of ... http://myfinnotes.com/seized-chinese-workers-freed-in-egypt/ World stock markets fell Monday, with uncertainty about a tentative deal to resolve Greece's debt crisis weighing on investor sentiment ahead of a summit of European leaders. Benchmark oil slipped to near $99 per barrel while the dollar rose against the euro but fell against the yen. Stock markets opened ... http://myfinnotes.com/world-stocks-fall-ahead-of-eu-summit/ The credit ratings of Italy, Spain and three other euro-area countries were cut by Fitch Ratings, which said the five nations lack financing flexibility in the face of the regional debt crisis. Italy, the euro area http://myfinnotes.com/italy-spain-are-among-five-euro-zone-nations-downgraded-by-fitch-ratings-bloomberg/ Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said he sees no indication from European officials that they have a plan to support growth in the region as they reduce budget deficits to quell their debt crisis. Stiglitz, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said the speeches ... http://myfinnotes.com/stiglitz-says-european-officials-show-no-plans-to-spur-growth-tom-keene-bloomberg/ The world http://myfinnotes.com/best-consumer-stock-gain-may-end-on-south-africa-valuations-bloomberg/ India http://myfinnotes.com/india-growth-weaker-as-inflation-still-high-central-bank-says-bloomberg/ Italian officials have confirmed the presence of light fuel in the sea around the capsized Costa Concordia that appears to have come from machinery on the ship. However, Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Cosimo Nicastro says there is no indication that any of the nearly half-million gallons (2,200 metric tons) of ... http://myfinnotes.com/officials-confirm-light-fuel-near-ship/