Feb 23, 2012 02:41AM

Greece readies debt swap under bailout deal

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's parliament will endorse a debt swap with private bondholders on Thursday to help reduce the country's debt and secure an international bailout, despite new protests against the tough terms of the deal.

Feb 22, 2012 02:45PM

Banks sink on European economic worry

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Banks led stocks lower on Wednesday as the S&P 500 stalled near a 10-month-high after signs of weak European business activity rekindled concerns about a recession overseas.

Feb 22, 2012 02:58PM

Fitch downgrades Greece on debt swap plan

ATHENS (Reuters) - Fitch cut Greece's long-term ratings on Wednesday to its lowest rating above a default, becoming the first ratings agency to make the widely expected downgrade after the country announced a bond exchange plan to ease its massive debt burden.

Feb 22, 2012 07:30PM

HP profit plummets, CEO urges patience

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co's earnings fell nearly 44 percent and the world's No. 1 computer maker forecast a second-quarter profit below Wall Street estimates as it struggles with weak sales of PCs and printers.

Feb 23, 2012 01:01AM

Liberty Global mulls bid for Ziggo: paper

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - U.S. cable group Liberty Global is considering a bid for Dutch cable firm Ziggo, estimated to be worth 8 billion euros ($10.6 billion) and which is planning a stock listing, Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported on Thursday without citing sources.

Feb 22, 2012 02:47PM

Burned before, Fed officials cautious on rebound

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. central bank officials have good reason to be skeptical about the strength of the economy: excessive optimism has caught them flat-footed before.

Feb 22, 2012 07:28PM

U.S. wants more talks on Japan bid to join Pacific trade group

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday it was still considering whether to support Japan's bid to join talks on a trans-Pacific regional free trade agreement, three months after Tokyo announced interest in the negotiations.

Feb 22, 2012 03:39PM

G20 hopes for progress on EU debt crisis: Carstens

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Group of 20 policymakers are hoping for a signal this weekend that Europe will boost crisis funding, smoothing the way for a deal to increase International Monetary Fund resources, the head of Mexico's central bank said on Wednesday.

Feb 22, 2012 08:44PM

Buffett's Berkshire muscles into Thai reinsurance

HONG KONG/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is pushing into the Thai reinsurance market and selling cover for higher rates, taking advantage of the retreat of competitors such as France's CCR after they suffered losses from last year's floods.