Business Blog

Central bank keeps interest rates on hold but Mario Draghi drops hints the ECB will loosen monetary policy next month to combat low inflation

Average weekly trading volume of high-yield ETFs has risen 18% since sell-off last year, while trading of high-yield bonds in the cash market fell 6%

Global stocks rise and the euro gives up early gain amid expectations that US and eurozone monetary policy will remain easy for some time

* FTSEurofirst 300 up 0.9 pct, hits highest level since June 2008* Peripheral banks rally as ECB opens door to June move* Metro and ProSieben rise after updatesBy Francesco CanepaLONDON, May 8 (Reuters) - A key European equity index surged to near six-year highs on Thursday, led by Italian and Spanish banks, after the European Central Bank opened the door to more stimulus measures in June.The pan-

The European Central Bank keeps its benchmark interest rate at 0.25%, but bank chief Mario Draghi hints it may act soon to counter low inflation in the eurozone.

Barclays says it will cut 19,000 jobs by the end of 2016, including 7,000 from its troubled investment bank.