Italy forecasts its debt to soar to a new post-war record level of 158.5% of gross domestic output (GDP) this year, surpassing the 155.6% goal it set in September, a government source told Reuters on Saturday.

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday high interest rates do not serve Turkey and he repeated his unorthodox view that the solution is to cut rates in order to lower inflation, comments that rattled investors and sent the lira down nearly 2%.

Investors stormed into financial and energy stocks last week, BofA's weekly fund flow statistics showed on Friday, frontloading positions on expectations U.S. President-elect Joe Biden was planning a huge stimulus package.

European stocks were set to end a four-week winning streak on Friday with small losses, as the prospect of tighter lockdowns in Germany and France as well as new COVID-19 restrictions in China cut into optimism about a global economic recovery.

A strong rally in emerging market assets, especially equities, helped lift assets under management (AUM) at money manager Ashmore by 9% in the last quarter of 2020, the group said on Friday.

Britain's economy shrank by 2.6% in November, the first monthly fall in output since the country was under its initial COVID lockdown last April as new restrictions were imposed to slow the spread of the disease.

Mayors of some three-dozen U.S. cities have asked the incoming Biden administration to send COVID-19 vaccine shipments directly to them, bypassing state governments, saying local officials were best positioned to ramp up lagging inoculations.

The International Monetary Fund is urging countries to continue strong fiscal and monetary efforts to support their economies given continued uncertainty about the risks posed by a resurgence in COVID-19 cases and new variants.

European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane faced pushback from fellow policymakers at the ECB's latest meeting, when he proposed fresh measures aimed at helping the euro zone through the coronavirus pandemic, the official account of the meeting showed …

UPDATE 1-BOJ's Kuroda vows more stimulus if pandemic derails recovery  Reuters

Vaccines and fresh economic stimulus promised by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will give the global economy a chance to put the coronavirus pandemic behind it in 2021, policymakers and industry leaders told the Reuters Next conference.

South Korea's unemployment rate surged to an 11-year high in December, while the number of employed plunged at the fastest rate in over two decades, as stringent COVID-19 curbs at home intensified pressure on businesses.

South Korea's unemployment rate surged to an 11-year high in December, while the number of employed plunged at the fastest rate in over two decades, as stringent COVID-19 curbs at home intensified pressure on businesses.

* Sales fall in 2020 as franc strength reduces revenues from abroad (Recasts, adds CEO comment, analysts)

UPDATE 1-European stocks steady as banks, oil, travel sectors rise  Reuters

Wealth manager Rathbone Brothers on Tuesday named former Phoenix Chief Executive Officer Clive Bannister as chairman and posted an 8.6% jump in total funds at the end of 2020, helped by strong market movements in the last quarter.

UPDATE 1-Oil prices dip on rising virus cases; expected stock draw stems losses  Reuters

Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan on Monday said he expects broad vaccine distribution to unleash strong economic growth later this year, allowing the U.S. central bank to begin to pull back on some of its extraordinary monetary support.

Bank of England policymaker Silvana Tenreyro said on Monday that cutting British interest rates below zero could boost the economy by more than expanding bond purchases, a view that divides opinion at the central bank.

The pound was among the risk assets hurt by the recovering dollar on Monday, falling below $1.35 for the first time in 2021, while investors weighed up the risk of the Bank of England introducing negative rates.

* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields http://tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr (Updates prices, comment, chart)

* JD Sports jumps on upbeat 2021 profit outlook (Updates prices, adds comment)

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden said the U.S. jobs report on Friday shows Americans need more immediate and direct relief from the coronavirus pandemic and that taking action now will help the economy even with deficit financing.

* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields http://tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr (Adds U.S. data, updates prices)

RT @adrianthedev: Today I learned about the `stimulus:manifest:update` command which will update the `app/javascript/controllers/index.js`…

Stimulus update

Stimulus update

Quick update of the stimulus data. RBNZ and Treasury are determined to make us the case study of how *not* to handle a bout of supply shock inflation. https://t.co/BAweMXhzXe

RT @dcexaminer: Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in 11 days https://t.co/hVBADQ9FSu

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in LA in 10 days https://t.co/QkKk7cDLGd

RT @adrianthedev: Today I learned about the `stimulus:manifest:update` command which will update the `app/javascript/controllers/index.js`…

RT @USATODAY: More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby bonus…

Midnight Mass Updates Stimulus update

Midnight Mass Updates Stimulus update

RT @adrianthedev: Today I learned about the `stimulus:manifest:update` command which will update the `app/javascript/controllers/index.js`…

Commodities, especially #oil, may continue to struggle as the China reopening story stalls to the point of incrementally more stimulus on top of interest rate cuts. Full update here: https://t.co/fK39zMV9W5

You know who I am talking about illegals/new arrivals and people of color https://t.co/G9qxtRqssj

#COMMODITY MARKET UPDATE- #Copper gains amid heightened expectations for economic stimulus measures in China #Zinc gains amid expectations China would undertake more stimulus measures #Aluminum gains on short covering after prices dropped amid strong supply. #Kediaupdates #MCX

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in 12 days https://t.co/YG472sRBzI

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS! CHANGES WILL BE THIS WEEK! MONTHLY CHECKS ARE ARRIVING! STIMULUS CHECK UPDATE. https://t.co/dHHsG3k9PZ

RT @roaming_rn: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled monthly to go out to LA county former DCF foster children? Couldn’t be Hush money cou…

Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled monthly to go out to LA county former DCF foster children? Couldn’t be Hush money could it? https://t.co/52MGdVn7AK

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in 11 days https://t.co/hVBADQ9FSu

Stimulus Update: New Proposal Could Give Americans Monthly $1,200 Checks https://t.co/JqEAEveTua via @Yahoo How many bribes do the progressive socialist candidates,who call themselves democrats,have out on their campaign trail? $1200 per month,student loans,REPARATIONS,only 3?Ha!

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in 12 days https://t.co/3gZbHtXeu4

UPDATE 1-China ##stocks edge up on economic stimulus hopes -Yahoo Finance https://t.co/Yb3ZifCCHZ

Stimulus update

Stimulus update

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in 12 days https://t.co/xN9BjsE6n7

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in 12 days https://t.co/L2hLla8gvh Here we go again you get 1000 you get 1000 don't believe this crap no one will get a dime wait until that date like i said here we go again.

RT @USATODAY: More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby bonus…

Remove an earnings requirement from the full credit Expand the maximum child tax credit to $250 per month Provide a "baby bonus," an extra $2,000 in the month a new baby is born. "Jen Psaki" Mary "Moms for Liberty" "Sound of Freedom" "Home Secretary" https://t.co/JWIkAGEYVx

Why? I thought the economy was doing great because of #Bidonomics https://t.co/foys6HypJO

RT @USATODAY: More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby bonus…

RT @USATODAY: More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby bonus…

RT @clarionledger: More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby…

Stimulus check update: Applications for California county's monthly $1,000 direct payment close today https://t.co/xs89GzOZ1K

[ADVISOR VIEW] #Markets rebounded in June as investors cheered news the US had agreed to lift the debt ceiling and avoid default. Sentiment was also buoyed by hopes China will introduce fresh rounds of stimulus: #MichaelHaldane - @GlobalLocalZA. https://t.co/yvN9quWVxT #Economy

RT @clarionledger: More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby…

More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby bonus. Here's what it means. https://t.co/Ammj93nVvb

More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby bonus. Here's what it means. https://t.co/8dKoVeb1qC

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $1,000 scheduled to go out in 13 days https://t.co/olqD1pnRw2

Socialism at its finest! https://t.co/q1G1OIMphA

RT @USATODAYmoney: More than 200 members of the House support a plan to renew the $300-a-month child tax credit payments and a $2,000 baby…