The French budget balance showed a deficit of EUR 9.2 billion in January compared to a shortfall of EUR 8.1 billion seen in the same period of last year, the Budget Ministry revealed Thursday. Expenses increased to EUR 27.3 billion in January from EUR 22.2 billion in the previous year. At the sa...

Canadian factory sales rose to the highest level in a year in December, led by aerospace and motor vehicles. Sales increased 1.6 percent to C$43 billion ($41.1 billion), the sixth gain in seven months, Statistics Canada said today in Ottawa. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted a rise of 1...

Foreign direct investment in China more than doubled in December from a year earlier as the effects of the financial crisis fade. Investment rose 103 percent from a year earlier to $12.1 billion, the Ministry of Commerce said at a briefing in Beijing today. That compared with a 32 percent increa...

Canadian wholesale sales rose less than expected in October, as a gain in automotive sales was tempered by a drop in sales of food and beverages. Sales advanced 0.3 percent to C$41.1 billion ($38.6 billion), Statistics Canada said today in Ottawa. Economists expected a 0.5 percent gain, based on...

Germany's trade surplus increased to EUR 10.6 billion in September from EUR 8.1 billion in August, the Federal Statistical Office reported Monday. However, the surplus stood below the expected level of EUR 11.2 billion. A year ago, the surplus totaled EUR 15.3 billion. Upon calendar and seasonal...

The 16-nation euro zone's trade balance with the rest of the world rose to 4.6 billion euros ($6.5 billion) in June, compared to a flat balance in the same month last year, the statistics agency Eurostat reported Monday. The region posted a surplus of 2.1 billion euros in May, compared to a 3.8...

Britons paid down mortgage debt at a record pace in the first three months of the year as the recession encouraged people to curb borrowing. Individuals added to their housing equity for a fourth quarter, paying in a net 8.1 billion pounds ($13.2 billion), which was the most since records began i...