Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said a “strong case” can be made for keeping the central bank involved in bank supervision, and subjecting interest rate policy to congressional audits may undermine confidence in monetary policy.    ...

The U.K. economy shrank less than previously estimated in the third quarter as consumer spending stopped falling and the service industries slump eased, bringing the longest recession on record closer to an end. Gross domestic product fell 0.3...

Irish government workers will stage the biggest strike in at least three decades today in protest at plans to cut pay to contain the budget deficit. Nurses, teachers and tax officials are among around 250,000 workers taking part in the 24-hour...

President Barack Obama said he focused much of his recent week-long trip to Asia on exploring ways to increase U.S. exports and thereby create jobs. Obama returned Nov. 19 from a trip to Japan, China and South Korea. In his weekly radio and Internet...

Russian consumers are benefiting from a stronger ruble that’s boosted incomes and offset tight credit while a lack of investment is hampering a rebound in manufacturing, a series of economic reports showed today. Real disposable incomes posted the...