QUANTITATIVE EASING

Financial markets are already starting to pay the price of central bank wavering and lack of cooperation with higher volatility.

U.S. markets managed to eke out a slight gain amid uncertainty about Asia and Europe.

Mervyn King said he was concerned about a persistent weakness in global economic demand, six years on from the depths of the financial crisis.

The French leader's comments reinforced expectations that the ECB will follow other major central banks into quantitative easing.

The euro fell from nearly $1.40 in May to $1.15 last Friday, its slide gathering pace as expectations mount that the ECB will launch QE.

Oil prices are causing energy firms to lay off employees, underscoring concern for the U.S. economy, according to the "Beige Book."

The fall in inflation has given some respite to households with average earnings rising by more than prices.

Market signals of deflation, at least in Europe, are becoming harder to ignore. All eyes are on the European Central Bank.

Data are expected to show the first annual fall in consumer prices since 2009, piling pressure on the ECB.

The euro fell to as low as $1.18605, its weakest level since March 2006.

U.S. Federal Reserve prepares Wednesday to debate inflation concerns at a meeting in Washington.

The fall in inflation has given some respite to British households and average earnings rose by more than prices in September.

The Fed promised in 2012 to keep interest rates "close to zero" until after its asset purchase scheme ended and the economy strengthened.

The ECB forecasts the eurozone economy will grow just 1 percent in 2015, as opposed to the 1.6 percent it projected three months ago.

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s “Beige Book” revealed that plunging oil prices over the last six months are starting to have negative effects in regions that operate heavily within the energy industry as well as chemical manufacturers.

The official Purchasing Managers' Index still indicated a modest expansion in activity but below forecasts.

Alarm bells are ringing around the world despite the major central banks' highly accommodative monetary policies.

Any real benefit to China's economy will probably be the result of factors outside the country.

The Federal Reserve is scheduled to release the latest minutes from the FOMC's October meeting on Wednesday at 2 p.m. EST.

An aging population could be part of the reason monetary stimulus has been so ineffective in Japan.

Germany, Europe's traditional powerhouse, is showing signs of weakness after slashing its growth forecasts for 2014 and 2015.