The European Central Bank is committed to supporting the euro zone's economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, using its massive bond purchases as its main tool, chief economist Philip Lane said on Tuesday.

Few challenges have excited technologists more than building tools to help people who are blind or visually impaired. It was Silicon Valley legend Ray Kurzweil, for example, who in 1976 launched the first commercially available text-to-speech reading device. …

The pound was steady on Monday, strengthening versus the euro and holding above $1.30, as investors weighed the government's strategy of local lockdowns and looked ahead to the Bank of England's policy meeting on Thursday.

Sterling holds above $1.30; focus on COVID-19 cases and Bank of England  Reuters

German bond yields rise from two-month lows in busy week  Reuters India

German bond yields rise from two-month lows in busy week  Reuters

Slovakia reported on Friday its first coronavirus death since the middle of May, bringing its toll to 29, one of the lowest in Europe.

Global funds recommended cutting equity holdings in July to the lowest in four years and suggested keeping bond allocations unchanged from June, amid worries the coronavirus pandemic is hobbling a nascent economy recovery, a Reuters poll of showed.

Global funds recommended cutting equity holdings in July to the lowest in four years and suggested keeping bond allocations unchanged from June, amid worries the coronavirus pandemic is hobbling a nascent economy recovery, a Reuters poll of showed.

After years of gloom, euro bulls will be celebrating the single currency's brisk rally to two-year highs against the dollar, yet the euphoria is now being tempered by caution over what side effects the rapid run-up might bring.

Georgia's economy contracted 5.8% in the first half from the same period a year ago, when it grew 4.9%, as measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus took their toll, preliminary data showed on Friday.

Slovakia reported on Friday its first coronavirus death since the middle of May, bringing its toll to 29, one of the lowest in Europe.

After years of gloom, euro bulls will be celebrating the single currency's brisk rally to two-year highs against the dollar, yet the euphoria is now being tempered by caution over what side effects the rapid run-up might bring.

Slovenia recorded a budget deficit of 1.9 billion euros ($2.25 billion) in the first half of 2020, compared to a surplus of 220 million euros in the same period last year, the finance ministry said on Friday.

Portugal's gross domestic product shrank 14.1% in the second quarter of 2020, the biggest contraction ever, as lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus hit key sectors of the economy.

Norway's overall rate of unemployment fell to 8.2% in July from 9.6% in June as companies brought back more workers furloughed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Labour and Welfare Agency (NAV) said on Friday.

Italian 10-year bond yields were set for their biggest monthly drop since January on Friday, boosted by the recovery fund agreed by the European Union last week.

Turkey's lira is back in the spotlight. After two months of stability, the currency is testing the 7-per-dollar threshold and tumbling to record lows versus the euro, rekindling memories of the August 2018 lira meltdown.

UPDATE 1-Hungary in talks with banks on loan moratorium extension into 2021, PM's aide says  Reuters

Sterling rose against both the dollar and the euro on Thursday, testing the key $1.30 level, but Brexit-related risks and the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic kept investors cautious on the currency's longer-term outlook.

Turkey's lira is back in the spotlight. After two months of stability, the currency is testing the 7-per-dollar threshold and tumbling to record lows versus the euro, rekindling memories of the August 2018 lira meltdown.

Sterling rose against a weaker euro but fell versus the dollar on Thursday after the $1.30 level reached late in the previous session did not hold, with Brexit and the economic fallout from coronavirus weighing on the currency.

Yields on super-long Japanese government bonds edged higher on Thursday, tracking overnight moves in U.S. Treasuries, after the Federal Reserve repeated its pledge to keep interest rates near zero to help the economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The crippling effects of the coronavirus crisis have crushed government and corporate finances and sent debt soaring. As the charts below show, it is also crunching their credit ratings and causing a spike in defaults.

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

RT @upholdreality: GADDAFI: "The terrorists who hit New York were not Afghani. They did not use airplanes or take off from Iraq or Afgha…

" Some of us were more inclined to remember the less charitable observation by Larry Holmes: "King"s an equal opportunity dirtbag

Larry King https://t.co/3tKaQHgPWO

RT @zozo7526014397Z: Are you beginning to think that Larry Fink, the King of Wall Street, is an omniscient, omnipotent God? The genius trad…

RT @BartlettChrisJ: @crazyclipsonly The rapist got 40-175 years, with the judge telling him she had just signed his 'death warrant'. The fa…

RT @zozo7526014397Z: Are you beginning to think that Larry Fink, the King of Wall Street, is an omniscient, omnipotent God? The genius trad…

RT @ATRightMovies: MARLON BRANDO singing with Larry King in 1994. https://t.co/mrd0HIUZhk

RT @ATRightMovies: MARLON BRANDO singing with Larry King in 1994. https://t.co/mrd0HIUZhk

RT @pourmecoffee: Regarding the Victor Wembanyama v. Britney Spears dustup, I must once again point out that this is a solid core of a norm…

Regarding the Victor Wembanyama v. Britney Spears dustup, I must once again point out that this is a solid core of a normal Tuesday night Larry King CNN panel.

RT @paulieknep: Bernard King driving on Larry Bird https://t.co/KlHSVsOVIo

RT @doug_bard: Check out "cover:king of nothing" by Larry Styles - https://t.co/GQSNenGRSy

RT @paulieknep: Bernard King driving on Larry Bird https://t.co/KlHSVsOVIo

I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So, if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening." — Larry King https://t.co/ME6prFMYvE

Check out "cover:king of nothing" by Larry Styles - https://t.co/GQSNenGRSy

RT @paulieknep: Bernard King driving on Larry Bird https://t.co/KlHSVsOVIo

Science tried to censor Larry King and Morton Downey Jr. Jr. and King spewed lies cigarette smoking isn't dangerous. Science failed. Natural real science succeeded. Downey Jr. died of lung cancer. King suffered a heart attack. Both from smoking. @cspanwj https://t.co/9gP9J03i4x

RT @darrenleach33: I just finished reading Bernard King's autobiography, entitled Game Face. Super cool read! A Scoring machine, Hall of Fa…

RT @darrenleach33: I just finished reading Bernard King's autobiography, entitled Game Face. Super cool read! A Scoring machine, Hall of Fa…

Same few oldies, new reduced prices.: Solomon King £150 Larry Saunders £150 The Prophets £150 Oliver Norman £160 Ike & Tina Turner £100 All records in at least VG+ condition, I grade low, you will not be disappointed.… #northernsoul #soulsourcesales https://t.co/Wxappt8zbY

RT @paulieknep: Bernard King driving on Larry Bird https://t.co/KlHSVsOVIo

Bernard King driving on Larry Bird https://t.co/KlHSVsOVIo

I just finished reading Bernard King's autobiography, entitled Game Face. Super cool read! A Scoring machine, Hall of Famer, and King of the Volunteers! "He's the best scorer I've ever seen or played against." - Larry Bird @bernardkingHOF @Vol_Hoops @nyknicks https://t.co/Tcbxkom44Z

if larry king were still alive i would like to go up to him and have him autograph a picture of doris from shriek 2

RT @Pavelliuus: Kerry King https://t.co/1T71yRmOMj

A covert 'contamination' ploy from extra duty LE? It happens! @LakeCountyCA Bill Paxton Talks Being Drugged On 'Titantic' Set (VIDEO) | Larry King N... https://t.co/oM5krCAwBX via @YouTube

RT @dijoni: True story about the Belgium king genocide in the Congo. https://t.co/Oq1vwxFCCX

RT @BbMaharlika: Larry Gadon Appointment At Disbarment https://t.co/4sPCnt1diy

RT @treadmill09: Wha-hay. LeB.itch getting owned by Mario Chalmers of all people. Lol. Imagine Stacey King telling Michael Jordan this.…

RT @treadmill09: Wha-hay. LeB.itch getting owned by Mario Chalmers of all people. Lol. Imagine Stacey King telling Michael Jordan this.…

RT @treadmill09: Wha-hay. LeB.itch getting owned by Mario Chalmers of all people. Lol. Imagine Stacey King telling Michael Jordan this.…