ECONOMY

Risk sentiment improves ahead of next week's ECB meeting.

Gold up to four-month high while palladium down to three-month low

Global crude oil market remains 'considerably oversupplied' keeping prices under pressure.

Since ECB chief Mario Draghi hinted at additional stimulus, euro has lost more than 5% vs dollar.

Markets to track the ECB's monetary policy decision, due out on 22 January, to see how it influences gold prices.

ECB and Draghi in focus next week with more stimulus from region largely priced in.

An example of this "Silk Road" is the container rail freight service between Duisburg, Germany and Chongqing with a major rail/road container service centre at Xi'an's "Inland Port"

Price of bitcoin remains relatively stable, while other cryptocurrencies experience more losses.

EU-wide market recovery is driven by government incentives, discounting and wholesale orders.

December CPI numbers strengthen expectations of ECB easing.

The SNB revealed on 15 January that it would no longer cap the Swiss franc's value against the euro

Prime country house prices were up by 0.2% in the final quarter of 2014.

Boxed game sales fall as new consoles pick up the slack.

The abandonment of the euro cap has sent markets into a tailspin

On 15 January, the Swiss National Bank abandoned the euro cap sending the currency soaring.

Have no mercy, eschew the supermarkets wherever possible, and rejoice in what could be the end of an evil empire

IMF opens new credit line worth $23b for Poland but highlights external risks to economy.

A sharp drop in oil prices and a stronger US economy will probably not be enough to brighten the outlook for global economic growth this year, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday (January 15).

Beijing announces fresh stimulus following dismal bank lending and foreign investment growth data.

The UK is committed to spending 0.7% of the country's national income on overseas aid.

ONS figures show immigration adds the equivalent of a city to the UK annually

Emerging Asian currencies trade mixed day after SNB scrapping EUR/CHF floor.

The price of bitcoin has rebounded above $200, sparking a market-wide recovery.

Haunting photographs of abandoned places by urban explorer Johnny Joo.

UK has topped ING's European Savings League

With ECB set to loosen euro taps soon, defending EUR/CHF would be quite costly for SNB.

HSBC admits it's too 'hard to be too negative on the British property market'.

George Osborne believes the UK's economy can become the largest by 2030.

Brent crude will average $55/bbl in 2015, $65/bbl in 2016 and $80 in the medium term.