INFLATION

The Fed chair expects headwinds from weak growth abroad, low oil prices and uncertainty over China to abate and let the recovery continue.

Lending to eurozone companies and households grew at its fastest pace since late 2011 in February.

Consumer spending edged up 0.1 percent last month new data show, as inflation retreated, suggesting the Fed could take its time in raising interest rates.

Major indexes remain well above their 2016 lows, thanks to evidence of a reviving U.S. economy and a sharp rebound in oil prices.

James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Fed, lamented Thursday what he deemed an “inconsistent” streak in recent rate-hike decisions.

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff — with her mentor, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — could embrace pro-worker policies in a bid to cling to power.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen and her colleagues — who decided to hold interest rates steady Wednesday — have monitored a wide range of data to decide whether to make any adjustments.

This week, fresh forecasts released after the meeting will almost certainly signal a retreat to perhaps two or three rate hikes this year, economists predict.

Shares rise in Europe and Asia, adding to gains chalked up after last week’s stimulus package from the European Central Bank, as investors turn their attention to policy decisions from Washington, Tokyo and London.

This week's stimulus moves by the European Central Bank could steer the continent toward Japan-style stagnation, critics say.

Despite February's encouraging data, consumer inflation is expected to remain mild in coming months.

Facing the growing risk of a deflationary spiral, the central bank looks set to cut its deposit rate even further at its policy meeting Thursday.

Markets that rallied after Brazil's former president was detained for questioning in a corruption case involving the energy company may see a reversal.

The Chinese government also anticipates a budget deficit of 3 percent of gross domestic product in the world’s No. 2 economy this year, Premier Li Keqiang says.

In February, the U.S. economy is expected to have added 190,000 jobs — up from a preliminary reading of 151,000 in January.

The drop in stock markets and the rise in the dollar are acting like a brake on the U.S. economic recovery, Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan said.

Latin America's biggest economy plunged 3.8 percent last year, the worst performance by a major economy in 2015, according to reports.

A renewed drop in crude oil prices weighed more than expected on inflation within the eurozone in February.

Positive revisions to fourth-quarter GDP figures and healthy consumer spending data lifted economic hopes, but markets weren’t convinced.

The annual Economic Survey, prepared by the country’s chief economic advisor, also projected a growth rate of 7.6 percent in the ongoing fiscal year.

Taiwan's Foxconn said a plan to buy Sharp wasn't final, contradicting an announcement by the Osaka company.