Новини

News

• Brent crude oil futures settled lower for the third day in a row on fears over Greece and Spain
• ICE Brent crude settled at $107.14 edging down 35 cents, or 0.33 percent, the lowest close since the Dec. 20, 2011
• In three weeks, Brent fell $12.69, its biggest three-week drop since the week to May 20, 2011

News

• US crude settles lower for 6 straight days on worries over EZ
• NYMEX crude settled at $91.48 a barrel by shedding falling $1.08
• For the week, crude fell $4.65, , extending weekly losses to a third in a row.
• In three weeks, front-month U.S. crude has slumped $13.45, biggest three-week loss since the week to Aug. 14, 2011

News

• Greece's conservatives rejected the suggestion of Merkel that Greece hold a referendum on its EZ membership.
• Earlier Greece's govt spox said Merkel raised the referendum idea in a telephone conversation with Greece's President

Quotes

 "The Greek people don't need a referendum to prove they're pro-euro."

Antonis Samaras, the leader, Conservative New Democracy party.  

News

• Germany's Merkel discussed with Greece's president over phone on Friday whether his country should hold a referendum on staying in the Euro

Quotes

 "(Merkel) relayed to the President (Karolos Papoulias)thoughts about holding a referendum in parallel with the elections, on the question whether Greek citizens wish to remain in the euro zone,"

Dimitris Tsiodras, Greek government spokesman

News

• Barack Obama after meeting Francois Hollande said that G8 should focus on ways to promote growth alongside budget cuts in Europe
• He said that Hollande also agreed to give extraordinary importance to EZ economic growth

Quotes

 "President Hollande and I agreed that this is an issue of extraordinary importance, not only to the people of Europe, but also to the world economy,"

   "We're looking forward to a fruitful discussion later this evening and tomorrow with the other G8 leaders about how we can manage a responsible approach to fiscal consolidation that is coupled with a strong growth agenda."

Barack Obama, President, US

News

• US House of Representatives on Friday passed $642.5 bln defense spending bill for next year, defying a White House veto threat
• The House approved the annual National Defense Authorization Act in a 299-120 vote

News

• Comments about Greece exit plans from euro area is  "imprudent" and such a scenario "really extreme."  -DMO head

Quotes

 "I don't think it (a Greek exit from the euro) can be taken under consideration."

"It really is a difficult situation, but I think these are imprudent comments, nobody can know what the Greeks will decide. It is not a good thing that personalities should mention plans."

Maria Cannata, head, DMO, Italy

News

• European stocks decline sharply hitting its lowest level in five months on mounting fears about the ability of Spain and Greece.
• The FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 1.2 pct lower at 969.81 points

News

• The value of new Ireland mortgage lending fell by 30 pct in the Q1 of 2012 for Q4
• The value of new mortgage lending fell to 450 million euros in the Q1 from 639 million
• Irish house prices were unchanged in March compared to Feb.

News

• ECRI US leading economic index falls to 124.5 in May 11 week from125.4 prior week
• The index's annualized growth rate rose to 0.4 pct from zero pct a week earlier.