Gillard Reaches Deal With Miners on Australian Tax

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard reached an agreement with mining companies on a new resources tax, ending a dispute that cost her predecessor Kevin Rudd his job and paving the way for an election this year.

Why today's austerity could lead to tomorrow's inflation

The basic problem for markets now is that the recovery is running out of steam. Without the government stimulus there to prop it up, data in sectors from manufacturing to housing is disappointing investors who'd hoped that the private sector could get up and stand on its own two feet.

Warning signals of a double-dip recession flash brightly across the world

Global bond markets are flashing warning signals of a sharp slowdown in growth across the world and a possible slide toward a double-dip recession and outright deflation.

Angela Merkel's political woe punctures market euphoria

Fears over the political survival of German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent tremors through European markets late on Wednesday, puncturing the near euphoric mood after a crucial funding operation by the European Central Bank eased doubts over bank stress.

An Old Battlefront Returns in War on Euro

The Euro Crisis Related articles, background features and opinions about this topic. * Print * E-Mail * Feedback 06/30/2010 The Four Horsemen of the Acropolis An Old Battlefront Returns in War on Euro By Michaela Schiessl Photo Gallery: 3 Photos ddp In 1998, four renegade German professors tried to stop the introduction of the euro with a legal challenge in Germany's highest court. Now, 12 years later, they are fighting against a German bailout for Greece -- and this time around, people are listening to them.

Foreclosed Homes Sell at 27% Discount as Supply Grows

Homes in the foreclosure process sold at an average 27 percent discount in the first quarter as almost a third of all U.S. transactions involved properties in some stage of mortgage distress, according to RealtyTrac Inc.

How much further could stock markets fall?

It's been a grim couple of days for global stock markets. Indeed, it's been a pretty bad year so far in fact. The first quarter was fine, but since April markets have struggled. So far in 2010, reports the Financial Times, the FTSE All-World Share Index is down by more than 10%, while safe havens have been the big winners. US treasuries have returned 5.8%. The dollar is up 10.5% on a trade-weighted basis. And gold is one of the top performers, up 13%.