German government slightly raises 2023 GDP forecast

BERLIN (Reuters) -The German government has raised its economic growth forecast for this year to 0.4% from a previously predicted 0.2%, according to its spring economic projections published on Wednesday and first reported by Reuters last week. “A gradual recovery is underway, despite a persistently difficult environment,” German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said. He expects…

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EU countries should focus on net expenditure, cut debt over 4 years -EU executive

By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Commission proposed on Wednesday that, under a reform of the EU’s fiscal rules, governments should ensure public debt falls by an individually negotiated amount over four years and stays on a downward path for a decade afterwards. The proposal, which sets no numerical target for how much the…

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U.S. goods trade deficit narrows sharply in March; retail inventories rise

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. trade deficit in goods narrowed sharply in March as exports surged and imports declined, which augurs well for economic growth in the first quarter. The goods trade deficit contracted 8.1% last month to $84.6 billion, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday. Exports of goods increased $4.9 billion to $172.7 billion….

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Roche Q1 sales decline tempered by swift uptake of new eye drug

By Ludwig Burger (Reuters) -Switzerland’s Roche said first-quarter sales dropped 7% on falling demand for its COVID-19 therapies and tests, less steep than analysts had expected thanks to strong revenue growth from a new eye drug. Group revenue fell to 15.3 billion Swiss francs ($17.2 billion), the company reported on Wednesday, beating a market view…

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First Republic advisers have lined up potential purchasers of bank’s new stock – CNBC

(Reuters) – First Republic Bank’s advisers have already lined up potential purchasers of new stock in the lender if they can fix the bank’s balance sheet, CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources. The embattled lender’s shares were down more than 10% in premarket trading, after hitting a record low in the previous session. First Republic…

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