Unemployment

Spanish banks downgraded by Moody's in view of the continued unemployment and recession.

The full text of prime minister's speech in Manchester

Unemployment has fallen in March, defying expectations of a rise after news that the UK has re-entered recession.

France's new Socialist President Francois Hollande met the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin and both leaders promised to work together to bring back growth in the recession-hit eurozone.

Conservative prime minister David Cameron's leadership has left 60 percent of voter dissatisfied with him, according to the latest Ipsos Mori, in his worst poll rating ever.

Mitt Romney is described as a "vampire" sucking the life out of a business in a new campaign ad for Barack Obama.

The downtrend in the euro (EUR) seems set to last in the coming weeks as the single currency continues to come under pressure due to political uncertainty, sovereign debt crisis, and deepening recession in the eurozone.

Spain's Indignados fill streets to march against austerity measures that have not brought any improvement to the country's economic situation.

Chancellor George Osborne has suffered a downpour of bad economic news for the UK in recent months and there looks like no end to Britain's economic woes

International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, has posted a first quarter loss of €249m.

William Hill and Ladbrokes suspend bets as inconclusive elections make it a hot favourite with punters to exit.

British bookmaker suspends bets on Greek exit as economic, political turmoil escalates.

Labour leader mocks David Cameron for local election losses and failing to make U-turn on 45p tax rate.

A brief summary of the day's market-moving events across Europe's major economies

Spanish shares slumped and its benchmark borrowing costs spiked as investors switched focus to yet another indebted European economy as the region's financial crisis intensifies.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg admitted that they must do more to get the UK's mired economy growing again.

Staffing Group beats forecasts for earnings, sales amid challenging European economy

Pasok and New Democracy parties failed to secure majority in the Greek parliamentary elections.

Hollande, the first Socialist to be President of France in nearly two decades, said that he was proud of rekindling the hope of people with his victory.

Francois Hollande became the first Socialist French President in 17 years by defeating the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in the Sunday run-off.

Obama acknowledges that the November elections will be a close call between him and his rival Mitt Romney.

Voters are expected to reject the two main parties Pasok and New Democracy party.

Opinion polls held earlier had put socialist Francois Hollande ahead of Sarkozy.

All opinion polls give Francois Hollande a handsome victory.

Labour Party leader emerges from council elections in stronger position with hundreds of seats taken.

A tough week for Europe's markets just got worse after grim jobs data from the United States

John Lewis, the employee-owned co-operative, has reported significant sales growth for the week ending 28 April.

David Cameron's Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has been punished by voters in local elections over its austerity measures and a weak economy.

Major councils including Southampton, Birmingham, Norwich, Thurrock and Harlow have been won by Labour.

The United Nations Food Price Index reports its first fall in four months, driven by dairy, sugar and cereals.