INFLATION

The Federal Reserve is expected to renew its promise to hold benchmark interest rates exceptionally low for an extended period on Wednesday and may acknowledge a slight slowdown in the pace of U.S. economic recovery.

Latin American currencies firmed on Tuesday as stronger-than-expected German economic data offset concerns that Europe's efforts to confront debt troubles may crimp global economic growth.

Latin American currencies struggled for direction early on Tuesday as investors became more skeptical of China's vow to ease control over its foreign exchange rate.

Gold prices are set for yet another bull run on the back of concerns running high about European economy and investors rushing for gold under haven buying. The movement well understood when most of the investors opined that gold persist as the most safe investment instrument above all commodities and equities.

New claims for jobless aid rose last week while consumer prices notched their largest decline in nearly 1-1/2 years in May, suggesting interest rates will remain ultra low to nurse the fragile economic recovery.

Brazil's economy will grow solidly in 2010, but a slowdown from the first quarter will allow the government to bring inflation back to target by year-end, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Thursday.

New claims for jobless aid rose last week while consumer prices notched their largest decline in nearly 1-1/2 years in May, suggesting interest rates will remain ultra low to nurse the fragile economic recovery.

New claims for jobless aid rose last week while consumer prices notched their largest decline in nearly 1-1/2 years in May, suggesting interest rates will remain ultra low to nurse the fragile economic recovery.

Yields on Brazilian interest rate futures contracts rose in early trading on Thursday, after the central bank said that the country's economic growth is putting a benign inflation outlook at risk.

Consumer prices recorded their biggest decline in nearly 1-1/2 years in May as energy costs dropped, according to a government report on Thursday that pointed to tame inflation pressures and low interest rates.

Housing starts hit a five-month low in May as a homebuyer tax credit expired while wholesale prices remained subdued, giving the Federal Reserve ample room to maintain its ultra-low interest rate policy.

The U.S. economy is slowly healing and will avoid a relapse into recession, the American Bankers Association's economic advisory committee said on Wednesday.

Housing starts hit a five-month low in May as a homebuyer tax credit expired, while wholesale prices remained subdued, giving the Federal Reserve ample room to maintain its ultra-low interest rate policy.

Housing starts fell to a five-month low in May but industrial output rose, evidence of an uneven recovery that has kept inflation at a minimum.

Producer prices retreated in May as the cost of energy plunged, buying the Federal Reserve some time to maintain its ultra-low interest rate policy.

Housing starts fell to a five-month low in May but industrial output rose, evidence of an uneven recovery that has kept inflation at a minimum.

Housing starts fell more than expected in May to a five-month low as a homebuyer tax credit expired while plunging energy costs pushed producer prices lower, buying time for the Federal Reserve to maintain its ultra-low interest rate policy.

Manufacturing in New York state grew in June even as hiring slowed, supporting views the factory sector is recovering, while import prices recorded their largest decline in nearly a year in May.

Manufacturing in New York state grew in June even as employment declined, supporting the view the factory sector is recovering, while import prices recorded their largest decline in nearly a year in May.

Import prices recorded their largest decline in nearly a year in May as petroleum costs plummeted, according to a government report on Tuesday that bolstered views of tame inflation and low interest rates.

India's headline inflation unexpectedly accelerated in May, heightening expectations the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would raise rates before its scheduled July review despite concerns over Europe's debt crisis.