News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

EU gives green light for Bulgaria to join euro

EU finance ministers have given the final green light for Bulgaria to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026.

Europe • 08 Jul

Weaker US dollar creates additional hurdle for exporters

The US dollar has continued to weaken against the euro this week, presenting extra challenges for exporting firms.

Business • 02 Jul

EU ministers back Bulgaria's euro adoption from 2026

European Union finance ministers gave formal support today for Bulgaria to adopt the euro currency, paving the way for the country to become the 21st member of the euro zone from January 1, 2026.

Business • 20 Jun

ECB gives Bulgaria green light to adopt euro next year

Bulgaria has met all criteria to adopt the euro currency from 1 January 2026, the European Central Bank said after assessing progress on a host of indicators from inflation to central bank legislation.

Business • 04 Jun

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde

Euro could become the dollar's alternative, Lagarde says

The euro could become a viable alternative to the dollar, earning the 20-nation bloc immense benefits, if governments could only strengthen the bloc's financial and security architecture, ECB President Christine Lagarde said today.

Business • 26 May

The fallout from US tariffs continues to undermine the dollar's status as a safe haven in times of stress

Euro surges against dollar as US-China trade war rages

The dollar continued to tumble today, hitting its lowest in a decade against the Swiss franc and sending the euro above $1.14, as the fallout from US tariffs continued to undermine the dollar's status as a safe haven in times of stress.

Business • 11 Apr

Euro gains as Trump tariff fallout grips markets

Investors bought the euro and poured into safe havens such as the yen and Swiss franc today as the market rout from US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs deepened and fears of a global recession grew.

Business • 07 Apr

The euro rose nearly 1% to a two-week high of $1.0950 in early trade after US announced a raft of tariffs yesterday

Dollar slides as investors seek safe havens after tariffs

The dollar slid broadly today and the euro firmed after President Donald Trump announced harsher-than-expected tariffs against US trading partners, jolting the markets as investors sought safe havens such as the yen and Swiss franc.

Business • 03 Apr

The euro hit its highest since October yesterday at $1.0947

Euro buoyed by Ukraine ceasefire proposal

The euro was trading near five-month highs today on Ukraine's readiness to accept a month-long ceasefire, while stocks whipsawed on back-and-forth US tariff plans as levies on steel and aluminium imports kicked in.

Business • 12 Mar

The single currency is up nearly 3% this week - on track for its best week since November 2022

Euro rallies as Germany's debt overhaul boosts outlook

The euro extended its rally today and hovered at near four-month highs as Germany's proposed €500 billion infrastructure fund boosted Europe's growth prospects despite global trade tensions worrying investors.

Business • 05 Mar

The euro touched a one-month high of $1.0528 in earlier trade but later pared some of those gains to stand just 0.03% higher

Euro treads water as focus shifts to German govt talks

The euro steadied today after a brief rally following the election victory of Germany's conservatives as attention turned to how long coalition talks will take.

Business • 24 Feb

The euro is set for a 5.6% decline against the dollar this year, with traders expecting the European Central Bank to be sharper with its cuts than the Fed

Dollar stands tall in 2024, propped up by cautious Fed

The dollar slipped on the last trading day of the year today but was poised to clock strong gains in 2024 against almost all currencies as investors prepared for fewer US rate cuts and the incoming Trump administration.

Business • 31 Dec 24

The euro dipped over 1% at one point today to its lowest level since November 2022

Euro falls to two-year low after soft PMI data

The euro plunged to a two-year low today after data showed a tumble in euro zone business activity, and caused markets to up bets on ECB rate cuts, while bitcoin hit a record high just shy of $100,000.

Business • 22 Nov 24

The euro has slumped nearly 5% from more than one-year highs in September when a weakening economic outlook stopped it in its tracks

Explainer - Why is the euro falling and could it hit $1?

The euro has fallen to one-year lows, reviving talk the currency could hit the $1 mark. Donald Trump's US election win raises the prospect of a hike in tariffs that could deal a fresh blow to the euro zone economy.

Business • 13 Nov 24

The euro had weakened 0.8% since French President Emmanuel Macron called the election on June 9

Euro rises after France's far-right wins first-round vote

The euro jumped today after a convincing and historic win by the French far right in the first round of parliamentary elections fell slightly short of some expectations, leaving the final result dependent on party deals before a second round next weekend.

Business • 01 Jul 24

Euro zone inflation slowed to 2.4% last month from 2.6% in February - in line with a preliminary estimate released earlier this month

Confirmed euro zone inflation fall boosts ECB's cut plan

Euro zone inflation slowed across the board last month, reinforcing expectations for a European Central Bank interest rate cut in June, even as rising energy costs and a weak euro cloud the outlook, final data from Eurostat showed today.

Business • 17 Apr 24

The euro is today heading for a record twelfth week of declines against the dollar in a row

Euro set for longest losing streak in its history

The euro was heading today for a record twelfth week of declines against the dollar, unless US jobs data later in the day push the currently all-dominant greenback lower.

Business • 06 Oct 23

Russia's rouble is set to gain more than 6% in what has been one of its most volatile weeks all year

Russian rouble steadies near 2-week after volatile week

The Russian rouble steadied today, hovering not far from a two-week high hit in the previous session and it is set to gain more than 6% in what has been one of its most volatile weeks all year, with the market on alert for capital controls.

Business • 18 Aug 23

Russia's rouble has shed around 30% of its value against the dollar since the beginning of the year

Rouble plunges against dollar to March 2022 low

The Russian rouble slid past 100 against the dollar today, its lowest level since March 23, 2022 - weeks after Moscow unleashed full-scale hostilities in Ukraine.

Business • 14 Aug 23

Britain booked a £91m loss on currency movements related to payments to the EU under the terms of the Brexit settlement during the 2022/23 financial year

Sterling's mini-budget dip made UK's Brexit bill dearer

Sterling's drop at the time of former British Prime Minister Liz Truss's failed budget plans meant the British taxpayer stumped up tens of millions of pounds extra to fund Brexit divorce bill payments to the European Union, paid in euros, new figures show.

Business • 01 Aug 23

Sterling is on track for a weekly fall of 1.7%

Sterling heads for biggest weekly fall since February

The pound was on track for its biggest weekly fall since February today, as markets reacted decisively to signs that Britain may finally be turning a page on inflation.

Business • 21 Jul 23

Strong US banking results have firmed up expectations that the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank will keep raising interest rates

Dollar, euro steady after strong US bank results

The US dollar and euro steadied today after strong US banking results firmed up expectations that the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank will keep raising interest rates.

Business • 20 Apr 23

The dollar's 80-year-old reign as the world's reserve currency is being called into question by some commentators

Euro, dollar status should not be taken for granted

The US and the euro zone should not take the international status of their currencies for granted as countries such as China and Russia seek to create their own systems.

Business • 18 Apr 23

As the dollar continued to slip today, the euro rose to a one-year high

Dollar dips as euro hits one-year high

The dollar fell to a two-month low against a basket of currencies and a one-year low against the euro today after US producer prices unexpectedly fell in March.

Business • 13 Apr 23

The euro, sterling and Swiss franc all fell today on Credit Suisse's troubles

Credit Suisse woes knock euro, sterling, Swiss franc

European currencies fell sharply today after Credit Suisse's tumble to a new low renewed worries about the European banking sector following Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.

Business • 15 Mar 23