As India's economy grows and its ambition to make a mark on the global scene rises, the country has decided that its currency, the rupee, will have a new symbol. India hopes this will give the rupee an international face.

The delicacy of the current situation requires credible measures, this is very important. It is necessary in order to correct divergent paths. Sustainable fiscal policies will help to consolidate the recovery. Governments have solemnly stated that they are aware of this need, and have decided to bring forward consolidation measures.

Britain's new prime minister says the country's financial situation is worse than previously thought, and will require major spending cuts to avoid a debt crisis like that in Greece.

Financial chiefs of the world's leading economies have wrapped up a gathering in South Korea with wary optimism about the future, and a call for coordinated efforts to sustain growth.

Is the euro in danger? Sometimes, one imagines a sort of Anglo-Saxon plot against the euro. What do you think of this? When the ECB decided on 9 May to purchase government bonds that had found no takers in the market – a decision criticised notably by the President of the Deutsche Bundesbank – did it endanger its independence? Does it run the risk of becoming a kind of “bad bank”?

Credit rating agencies are a multi-billion dollar business, and just a handful of firms can help shape a financial product's success or failure. But who's watching over the ratings?

Financial markets remain jittery and the euro has continued to decline despite a $1 trillion aid package, put together by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, to stabilize the currency. It was a crisis that began in Greece, but now threatens other countries that use the euro and beyond. And, many wonder whether Europe can dig out and at what cost.

Continuing concerns about European economies sent gold prices up and pushed stock and oil prices down sharply on Friday. The euro currency also dropped sharply.

What exactly happened between Thursday and Sunday of the week before last, when Europe’s Heads of State and Government launched the largest financial rescue package in the history of Europe? What was in danger? Just the banks? The euro? The European Union?

Luxembourg, Austria and Belgium all figure on the OECD's 'grey list' of countries who are not yet up to standard in taxation rules. MEPs discuss the implications of the OECD standards in Europe.

I have not been alone in mentioning that in Europe 2009 will be a very, very difficult year. As regards 2010, I always mentioned not only our own diagnosis, but the fact that an overwhelming majority of observers, economists and international institutions would say that in the course of next year there will be a progressive gradual recovery.

Key ECB interest rates; inflation rates; economic analysis; monetary analysis; fiscal policy; structural policies.

What do you consider to be the floor for ECB interest rates? Would 1% be appropriate and what then would happen to the deposit rate?

On the basis of its regular economic and monetary analyses, at today’s meeting the Governing Council decided to leave the key ECB interest rates unchanged. As anticipated in our interest rate decision of 15 January 2009, the latest economic data and survey information confirm that the euro area and its major trading partners are undergoing an extended period of significant economic downturn, and that accordingly both external and domestic inflationary pressures are diminishing.

On 15 January, the European Central Bank decided to cut its main interest rate by 50 basis points to a historical low. Is this a sign that the recession is worsening?

China overtook the UK to become the fourth largest economy in the world in 2006 in terms of nominal GDP and is already the second largest economy when measured in PPP terms.

The euro will become legal tender in the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Malta as of 1 January 2008. On this date all Cyprus pound and Maltese lira balances in bank accounts will be converted into euro automatically and free of charge.

The current account of the euro area balance of payments (b.o.p.) recorded a deficit of EUR 2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2007.