Global body warns G20 on financial unity

The global banking industry has urged the Group of 20 economic powers to deliver on pledges to harmonise financial regulation.

• G20 flags US fiscal cliff
• Global power shift
• G20 backs Europe's overhaul to fight crisis

G20 flags US fiscal cliff

Finance chiefs of the world's 20 leading economies have raised concerns over the US fiscal cliff and Europe's debt woes at a meeting in Mexico.

• 'Fiscal cliff' could derail US recovery
• G20 finance chiefs to tackle euro crisis
• Eurozone business slump accelerates
• Euro under pressure on Spain worries
• IMF: Europe must restore confidence
• Unemployment grips eurozone

Obama, Putin angle for leverage

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin need one another, an uncomfortable truth for both.

• Obama to press Putin on Syria at G20
• Peres: Israel 'supports' Obama on Iran
• Putin - warmer US ties, missile guarantee

Debt crisis clouds hang over EU summit

Europe's leaders will sign a treaty designed to end years of deficits and debt at a two-day summit, but efforts to reinforce a financial firewall remain stuck.

• Devil in the detail
• EU firewall decision due in March
• S&P: Greece in 'selective default'
• Eurozone to shrink, EU to stagnate in 2012
• Eurozone crisis to dominate G20
• G20 moves to line up huge rescue deal

G20 moves to line up huge rescue deal

The G20 has worked to line up a deal in April on a second global rescue package worth nearly $2 trillion to stop the eurozone sovereign debt crisis from spreading.

• Eurozone crisis to dominate G20
• IMF's quest for $600bn met with wariness
• S&P warns cuts loom for G20 nations
• Fragile, unbalanced in 2012
• Germany slates G20’s approach to crisis
• IMF refutes G20 funds for Europe

Davies: Rand swings worrying

Volatility in SA's exchange rate due to the eurozone debt crisis is hurting competitiveness and may limit economic growth, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies says.

• Davies: New BEE tender rules out soon
• Davies: Rand not yet competitive
• Weak rand pumps up petrol price

G20 mulls global liquidity boost using IMF

The G20 is considering injecting billions of dollars into the world economy through the International Monetary Fund to raise global liquidity, G20 sources say.

• Greek drama overshadows G20 meeting
• Abide by terms or go, Greece told
• Greek chaos roils markets
• Stocks, oil up on ECB, Greece hopes
• Greek PM backs down on referendum
• EU breaks taboo

Abide by terms or go, Greece told

The French and German leadersl have warned Greece it must decide soon whether it will honour a bailout deal and stay in the eurozone.

• Greece bailout vote shakes world stocks
• Greek cabinet rallies around referendum
• Greek bailout move pummels stocks, euro

Markets brace for another week of summits

The next week is likely to be dominated by news out of key central bank meetings, G7 and G20 summits.

• Global stocks lose steam after rally
• US stocks sharply higher on EU deal
• European deal ignites rally in stocks
• Rand, JSE rally on eurozone deal optimism
• Asian shares cheer Europe debt plan
• World markets gain momentum

Zuma to push development at G20

President Jacob Zuma will promote the need for enhanced growth, jobs, and infrastructure development in Africa when he attends the G20 summit in France, his office says.

• After euro deal, eyes on G20 to act
• G20 to keep tabs on ultra-fast trading
• Europe to G20: We will act on debt

Rand supported by G20 meeting

The rand is steady against the dollar, with dealers looking for some gains on the currency after a G20 meeting that urged eurozone leaders to resolve the debt crisis soon.

• Davies: Rand not yet competitive
• Rand on front foot against dollar
• Weaker rand weighs on bonds
• Softer rand awaits eurozone progress
• Rand in a tight range in quiet trade
• Rand clings to gains

Testing week ahead for markets

The coming week is likely to be crucial as it will indicate the direction financial markets may take until the end of the year.

• Stocks, euro rise on crisis hopes
• JPMorgan drags down Wall St
• Euro recoups losses ahead of G20 talks
• China data, US earnings trip up stocks
• Wall St up as Europe tackles crisis
• Asian shares rise on eurozone progress

S&P cuts Spain rating by one notch

Standard and Poor's has cut Spain’s credit rating, underlining the challenges facing Europe’s leaders as they prepare to meet G20 counterparts over the eurozone debt crisis.

• S&P: French AAA rating stable
• S&P adds default warning to Greek woes
• S&P cuts Japan outlook
• S&P cuts Italy's rating
• Work more, play less, Merkel warns Greeks
• EU thrashes out Portugal bailout request

Rand on front foot against dollar

The rand has started on a firmer note and looks set to the end the week with its 2.5% gains intact after another volatile five days of trade.

G20 under pressure

Euro crisis, yuan sow discord as the Group of 20 gathers.

• US bill prompts Chinese investor rethink
• Chinese paper slams US currency bill
• China warns of trade war if US passes bill
• Trichet: Euro debt crisis now systemic
• Nobel winners downbeat on euro
• Brown: Increase euro fund fivefold

Marcus: Think before bailing out eurozone

A proposal for emerging market countries to help rescue debt-stricken eurozone states needs to be looked at carefully, says Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus.

• Brics call on Europe for urgent action
• Rescuing the eurozone
• Can Brics aid eurozone?

Markets skittish as slump fears flare

Investors dumped stocks as weak indicators from major nations intensified fears of a new global recession, although a G20 appeal helped calm European markets.

• JSE joins global market slump
• Stocks slide as G20 gets cool response
• World stocks tumble on recession fears
• Recession fears knock Wall St
• JSE hit hard in global selloff
• Fed outlook, China rattle investors

Stocks slide as G20 gets cool response

Asian stocks slid to a 16-month low amid fears that the developed world is stumbling back into recession, while a pledge from the G20 left investors largely unimpressed.

• Recession fears knock Wall St
• Fed outlook, China rattle investors
• Fed economic outlook spooks Wall St
• Asian markets stung by Fed pessimism
• Stocks decline before Fed, oil advances
• World stocks tumble on recession fears

Cabinet urges financial caution

In the wake of turmoil in global markets, the cabinet has warned local businesses to be more cautious.

• Sarb: SA's growth prospects dim
• India warns on nationalisation debate
• SA ups foreign exchange reserves

G20 to endorse bank surcharges

Global regulators are expected to give the green light to measures they hope will shield taxpayers from having to rescue failed banks again.

• G20 ministers tackle rising food prices
• Gordhan slams G8 for backing Lagarde
• 'G20 states resorting to protectionism'

'G20 states resorting to protectionism'

Industrialised and emerging nations appear to be buckling under increasing pressure as G20 nations put a damper on trade, say global groups.

• Trade war fears stalk Davos
• SA protectionism a disaster
• Protectionism 'risk to growth'
• China warns against protectionism
• Apec urged to fight protectionism
• China slams US 'protectionism'

IMF tries to bridge policy rift

The world's top finance officials acknowledged developing country concerns over capital inflows and the threat posed by rising inflation.

• IMF upbeat on Africa growth
• IMF warns on low rates, stimulus moves
• EU banks threat to global stability: IMF
• China targets 7% growth: Wen
• Oil, food bode ill for inflation
• UN warns of another food crisis

SA key in international arena - Zuma

South Africa is assuming an increasingly important position and is "ideally placed in the shifting poles of power", President Jacob Zuma says.

• Zuma hits out at US
• Zuma thanks Brics for Libya support
• Our Bric friends like our politics: Zuma

Zuma warns France of G20 risks

President Jacob Zuma has warned France that the Group of 20 nations which it heads risks becoming a talking shop "where nothing happens" - like the UN General Assembly.

• Zuma loyal to French G20 goals
• France hopes to woo Zuma
• Zuma to get French pomp