AP - British publisher Pearson PLC, owner of the Financial Times newspaper and Penguin Books, reported a 45 percent rise in full year net profit on Monday, after strong growth in its U.S. higher education division outweighed tougher conditions at other units.

AFP - The European Commission will Wednesday propose a new green, innovative economy for the European Union, heralding an unprecedented economic government to avoid the 'decline' of a bloc weakened by the global crisis.

AP - LONDON — The eyes of the world are on debt-ridden Greece as the country struggles to placate the EU and markets with spending cuts and strains to raise money to avoid default. But other countries, like the United States and Britain, have very high debt ratios — so why has the financial balance come so catastrophically undone for the small Balkan country?

AFP - German industrial orders posted a sharp rebound in January, gaining 4.3 percent from December and wiping away a decline that month as domestic orders soared in the biggest European economy.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets failed to build on recent strong gains Monday following a robust performance in Asia.

AFP - The euro lost ground against the dollar Tuesday on revived concern for the financial fate of Greece and other eurozone members and resistance to a planned IMF-style European Monetary Fund.

AP - Belgian insurer Fortis Holding said Wednesday that Dutch regulators fined it euro576,000 ($781,000) for giving incorrect information about the financial situation of Fortis bank, months before it nearly collapsed and sought government rescue.

AP - The European Union's top finance official says the U.S has pressed him on draft EU rules for hedge funds — and hopes the U.S. will respect Europe's right to decide its own legislation.

AFP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy headed Friday for talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the European economy, and a potentially thorny encounter with the man after Brown's job.

AP - Berlin police said Saturday they had released a man previously suspected of taking part in the storming last weekend of a poker tournament in which armed robbers made off with euro240,000 ($328,000) in jackpot money.

Reuters - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said there was no reason for Euro zone finance ministers to make any decision on financial aid for debt-ridden Greece when they met on Monday.

AFP - The German government said Monday that countries which fail to keep their finances in order should be kicked out of the eurozone, as EU ministers prepared to discuss a rescue package for debt-laden Greece.

AP - European Union finance ministers have called off Tuesday talks on new rules to oversee hedge funds, saying they need more time to strike a deal.

AP - The European Union's executive told Britain on Wednesday to speed up its deficit cuts, warning that the government is too optimistic about economic growth — a warning Britain says it will ignore.

AFP - Leading shares dipped at the open on Thursday as profit-takers moved to cash in on the previous day's gains.

AP - German officials say Berlin isn't ruling out financial aid from the International Monetary Fund for Greece, but say no decision is needed now.

AFP - Germany will agree to European countries providing bilateral assistance to debt-stricken Greece, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Saturday.

Reuters - The president of the European Commission challenged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to rise above domestic politics and agree on a financial safety net for debt-stricken Greece to help preserve European monetary union.

Reuters - Greece wants a European solution to its debt crisis and expects positive results from a European Union summit on March 25-26, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said on Tuesday.

Reuters - The euro sank to a 10-month low against the dollar and a lifetime trough versus the Swiss franc on Wednesday as speculation Greece may have a difficult time securing debt aid highlighted instability in the euro zone.

AP - Greece is celebrating its Independence Day without tanks and jets as it scales back an annual military parade because of its financial crisis.

AFP - The euro firmed and Athens breathed a sigh of relief Friday after European leaders agreed to rescue debt-ridden Greece, but markets stayed cautious amid lingering concerns over the currency's health.

AFP - Greece's finance minister said in an interview Sunday an EU rescue plan for his country agreed last week was a step toward historic change and new economic management for nations using the euro.

AFP - Greece on Monday raised five billion euros with a seven-year bond issue rolled out just days after being thrown a lifeline by the European Union to help resolve its unprecedented debt crisis.

AP - Greece's debt management agency says it is issuing more of an existing 20-year bond as it seeks to raise up to euro1 billion.

AP - The German government has approved a plan to have banks pay into a fund to cover the costs of future financial crises — a proposal welcomed by France's visiting finance minister.