European Debt, Europe Debt Crisis | featured news

When comedians feast on Ireland's terrifying debt situation, it's time to laugh - or cry. Hard, cold truths will emerge in either case.

Leaders' dilemma is how to cut spending without undermining the economies they seek to sustain.

Industrial and technology stocks pulled the market sharply higher Tuesday after Boeing Co. said it was boosting production and an industry group forecast that demand for computers would increase.

Report shows that, so far, China's economy has not been hurt by Europe's debt problems.

U.S. stocks edged higher, bolstered by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's comments that the economy is unlikely to slide into a second recession, but worries about European finances persisted after Fitch Ratings warned that the U.K. faces budget challenges.

European Union finance ministers tried to broaden efforts to contain the region's debt crisis on Tuesday and Spanish public sector workers protested over government cutbacks.

Stocks plummeted across the Asia-Pacific region on Monday and the euro hit fresh four-year lows on renewed fears that the European debt crisis may be spreading.

Stocks tumbled Friday after the Labor Department said hiring remains weak and Hungary became the latest European country to report its economy is in crisis.

Shares rose in Europe and on Wall Street as markets calmed. Gold, however, hit a record amid efforts to defend European countries from sovereign default.

Greek unions announced on Wednesday that they would stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on May 20, the second major protest against tough austerity measures pledged in exchange for billions of euros in aid.