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European shares are seen opening lower Friday as weak data from the U.S. tempers sentiment despite strong corporate earnings this week. The FTSE 100 [.FTSE 5744.55 -0.74 (-0.01%) ] is seen opening lower by 14 points, the DAX [.GDAXI 6671.22 --- UNCH ] is called lower by 17 points and the CAC [.FCHI 3174.02 --- [...]

German exports unexpectedly increased for a second month in February, led by demand from outside Europe. Exports, adjusted for work days and seasonal changes, rose 1.6 percent from January when they gained 3.4 percent, the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden said today. Economists forecast a drop of 1.2 percent, according to the median of 10 [...]

The new Spanish government will present its first budget Friday, with austerity expected to be the overriding theme. The problems facing the euro zone’s fourth-largest economy have not dissipated since the government, led by Mariano Rajoy of the center-right People’s Party, took office last year, and there are now worries that the Spanish population is [...]

European stocks declined from a six- month high and the euro weakened against the dollar on concern that Greece’s debt crisis will persist even after a second bailout. U.S. equity futures pared gains while Treasuries fell. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 0.7 percent at 6:50 a.m. in New York. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index [...]

Euro zone finance ministers sealed a 130-billion-euro ($172 billion) bailout for Greece on Tuesday to avert a chaotic default in March after persuading private bondholders to take greater losses and Athens to commit to deep cuts. After 13 hours of talks, ministers finalised measures to cut Greece’s debt to 120.5 percent of gross domestic product [...]

Euro zone governments are looking to the European Central Bank and national central banks to help pare back the cost of a second rescue package for Greece which would otherwise amount to 170 billion euros ($224.2 billion). Figures seen by the Financial Times reveal Greece needs 136 billion euros in fresh bail-out funding from the [...]

The Greek parliament’s approval of fresh austerity measures despite violent protests in Athens opened the door for a brighter disposition in markets and this, coupled with stronger-than-expected earnings and growth prospects, may push stocks upwards, according to analysts. Finance ministers in the euro zone are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss the austerity measures [...]

Moody’s Investors Service cut the debt ratings of six European countries including Italy, Spain and Portugal and said it may strip France and the U.K. of their top Aaa ratings, citing Europe’s debt crisis. Spain was downgraded to A3 from A1 yesterday, Italy to A3 from A2 and Portugal to Ba3 from Ba2, all with [...]

Greek political leaders struck a deal on a package of austerity measures, clearing the way for a swap to cut the nation’s debt and win its second rescue in two years. Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos called European Central Bank President Mario Draghi to tell him “an agreement has been reached,” Draghi said at a [...]