French CPI m/m 0.2% 0.1% 0.1%

Bank of Japan stands pat, says economy starting to recover

TOKYO | Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:45am BST
(Reuters) - The Bank of Japan said an economic recovery was underway as it kept monetary policy steady on Thursday, its most optimistic view in two-and-half years reflecting the positive impact of a weakening yen and its massive monetary stimulus on activity.

The central bank made no major changes to its forecast that consumer inflation will accelerate in the coming years to near 2 percent in the business year ending March 2016, a key target for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to reflate the economy.

FTSE100 jumps as miners enjoy surge in metals prices

GBP 30-y Bond Auction 3.55|1.7 3.29|2.0

Miners underpin modest FTSE100 gains at midday

CAD NHPI m/m 0.1% 0.3% 0.2%

USD Unemployment Claims 360K 342K 343K

USD Import Prices m/m -0.2% 0.1% -0.6%

Portugal president throws politics into disarray

LISBON | Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:55pm BST
(Reuters) - Portugal's president threw the bailed-out euro zone country into disarray on Thursday after rejecting a plan to heal a government rift, igniting what critics called a "time bomb" by calling for early elections next year.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva proposed a cross-party agreement between the ruling coalition and opposition Socialists to guarantee wide support for austerity measures needed for Portugal to exit its bailout next year, followed by elections.

FTSE100 ends day comfortably higher thanks to the miners