the euro stoxx 50 down at nearly 2% at 2,62. the dow at this hour is trading down, 12,386, and on currency markets, the euro is trading down. despite the ongoing market turbulence, the mood among consumers is looking up. for the first time since the crisis, consumer sentiment in many european nations has actually improved according to a research institute, which adds the economic expectations rose for most countries during the second quarter. >> britons have more faith again in the economic recovery and a belief that a high level of inflation of 4.5% will ease, but consumers are not splashing out on big ticket items. it is a mixture of confidence and caution, mirroring the euro zone. of course, that sentiment is not as high in greece. the same thing goes for france and romania, but it is improving in spain, france, bulgaria, and italy. shoppers are more willing to spend in austria and gerthe gert letting the euro debt crisis put a damper on their consumption habits. they are spending more than any other consumers across the you,

the euro stoxx 50 closed down. the dow jones industrials also closed down by three-quarters of a percent and the currency market in the u.s., $1 for -- the u.s. could use -- the u.s. could lose its credit rating. barack obama is warning that the u.s. is just days to go before it faces economic meltdown unless this deal is reached to lift the national debt ceiling, america will default. republicans and democrats continued to pursue a competing plan said it appeared to have little chance of winning bipartisan support. >> the poker continues in washington with each party promoting their own debt ceiling scheme. john boehner calls his proposal a common sense plan. his deep cuts on spending for social programs simply goes too far for most democrats. it appears the differences between republicans and democrats remain too great for compromises. the white house has made it clear that time is of the essence. >> at the u.s. hit its debt limit in may and since may, the treasury secretary, using the authority that he has, has

the euro stoxx 50 posting nice gains, up by 1.8%. across the atlantic, the dow trading slightly higher at this hour. the euro is trading at $1.42. consumers enjoy more rights regarding information on what they eat in europe. the consumer information act aims to guarantee fast and free information on food products. to expedite the process, more information is provided to the website which began a new service this wednesday. >> what is really in this meal, from now on the german customers lot is at the trust the manufactures packaging. they will be able to check online using a new web site. >> they are confronted with products that they don't understand. products that allow advertising that is unreliable. >> the food industry has criticized the move. they fear that some products could end up getting blacklisted. those fears are unfounded according to the german ministry. >> german-made food has an excellent reputation around the world. that is a valuable commodity that the government and industry should seek to maintain. >> germany is

. -- the euro stoxx 50 finishing higher. on currency markets, the euro traded lower against the dollar at a value of one u.s. $40 3 cents. -- $1.43. >> the on voice of north and south korea met on the sidelines. -- the invoice -- the envoys of north and south korea meet to discuss the north korean nuclear program. they are looking to renegotiate in exchange for humanitarian assistance. muammar gaddafi has redacted any negotiations with rebel representatives. in an audience -- in an audio address, he said that there would be no talks between him and the rebels until judgment day. the rebels have also rejected negotiations. the african union has been pushing for a negotiated settlement to the standoff. a ban on women wearing a full body fail or burqa comes into force in belgium making it the second european country to enforce this. the legislators voted in favor of the band in april. the council of the human rights commission has condemned the move and they said it was a sad capitulation to xenophobia. >> this could be one of

euro stoxx 50 ended the day at 2832. the dow has enjoyed a bit of a push. it finished up by nearly half of 1%. the currency markets, the euro is trading at $1.43. the new managing director of the international monetary fund, christine lagarde, says that's all the debt problem in both industrialized and developing nations will be one of her top priorities. she said that a fast-growing emerging markets needed to have a greater say in how the imf is run. >> christine lagarde had only one chance to make a good first impression in her first press conference as managing director. the next installment of bailout funding for greece was one of the top subjects. >> that there is an imf meeting which is scheduled for friday at which we shall consider the -- >> she supported the bailout for greece in her former role as french finance minister. now, as head of the imf, she must maintain a sense of neutrality. she pleaded for evenhandedness and stressed that there would be no favoritism at the imf. >> you can rely on me but the imf in its judgment will remain independent

the euro stoxx 50 also clocking gains, finishing at 2,657. in new york, the dow trading higher, 12,571. and on currency markets, the euro also enjoying some nice gains against other major currencies. $1.41. the european commission wants the 27 eu member states to find a solution to the nuclear waste disposal of the block. above all, permanent storage facilities are needed, and until now, they have largely ignored the problem. >> radioactive waste is stored at some controversial sites, but there are no permanent sense company there in germany, nor in the rest of the eu. -- there are no permanent disposal sites in germany, nor in the rest of the year. >> member states should present us with a comprehensive plan on how they will deal with the permanent storage of their nuclear waste. >> so far, only finland, france, in sweden have vowed to complete permanent storage sites within so many years -- and sweden have vowed to complete permanent storage sites. a new directive allows them to export them to disposal facilities outside the bloc. if they m

euro stoxx ended higher. the same reaction on the other side of the lentic with the -- either side of the atlantic with the dour trading up. the commission is asking for the power to tax the budget. they would like to introduce a 1% sales tax and a levy on financial transactions. the proposed taxes would allow the block to raise their own monday rather than relying on funding from memember states to enter germany, france, britain have signaled their opposition to the plan. >> it was a free day from school for many students in the u.k. not because of summer holidays but because teachers along with other public-sector employees wentn strike. the protesters are angry about the plan for pension reform as well as overall spending cuts. the british prime mininistedavid cameron denies the strike action as irresponsiblele. -- denounced the strike action as iesponsible. >> 150,000 public sector employees joined the marchersrs included government workers and teachers. they were protesting about an increase in the pensi

the eurozone euro stoxx 50 closing down by more than half a day%. the dow jones industrials is down in negative territory to close at 12,446. in the currency markets, the euro dipped below the one euro 40 mark. record numbers of for germany pause biggest airport. frankfurt international handled more passengers in june than ever before in this time of year. more than 5 million people landed and took off from the airport. the airports owner also registered strong growth at its foreign operations stretching from turkey to -- air freight shipments dropped by almost 6 1/2% to 180,000 tons. >> and blast has hit an egyptian pipeline that transports gas to israel and jordan. attacker's blow up a distribution system. this is the fourth time that this is happened this year. it comes a day after egypt announced the resumption of gas supplies to israel following a previous attack on the fourth of july. the u.n. security council has condemned attacks by the pro- government mons in syria on the u.s. and french embassies in damascus. the council called on the gove

the euro stoxx 50 putting in a strong performance up by more than 2%. across the atlantic on wall street, the dow is currently up by 1.3%. on currency markets, the euro is much stronger against the dollar, trading at $1.43. as earnings the season continues, the misery also continues for nokia. they are reporting a steep net loss. the loss of 360 million euros was worse than expected. they remain the world's largest automaker by volume but they have surrendered their lead in the global smart phone market to apple. they have failed to come up with attractive smart phone offering to compete with the iphone as well as research in motion's blackberry. which one do you have? >> i had a blackberry for years and i have switched to iphone. i have gone over to the dark side. >> that's the verdict. >> german media sources said that berlin has dispatched a senior diplomat to ask the president of yemen to step down. he has arrived in saudi arabia where he is being treated in hospital. he was injured in a bomb blast in june. saleh is being asked to accept the proposa

the euro stoxx 50 index also packing on gains finishing at 2844.the dow jones finished at the top of the hour up 0.75%. ithe euro trading higher against other major currencie1.4352 > german top managers are profiting from the economic upswing according to the latest survey. c.e.o.'s of tax-listed companies. an average of 4.5 million euros in 2010 -- ceos of the bachus listed companies earned an average of 4.5 million euros in 2010. the former number one, the deutsche bank chief. he managed to pull in just 8.9 million euros last year. don't feel too sorry for him. >>> turning to sports, in cycling is, the writer from norway has one stage six of the toward a france. a critic of the tour de france. this year stage was the longest, 226 kilometers. the bicyclist who came in third has the overall lead and the >>> other > > -- and the yellow jersey. >>> the world premiere of the final. potter film is being held in london tonight. thousands of fans turned out to say farewell to the characters who have grown up over the last 10 years. >> the boy wizard hims

it euro stoxx 50 post to 1% -- but dropped 1%. the dow jones industrials also closed in negative territoto. the currency markets, the euro is trading at $1.4371. >>> the u.s. debt crisis is pushing gold prices higher. they hit records in recent days as a safe haven for cash. the goodness for gold producing countries like south africa. but now goldminers have gone out on strike. >> work at four of south africa's biggest gold mines has come to a grinding halt. 250,000 miners are demanding a wage increase. >> we cannot survive on that wage. >> miners and south africa's coal pits are also calling for higher pay, but mine operators are only offering half of what the striking workers are asking for. still, they vow to continue the strike until their demands are met. >>> thank you, monica. turkey's top four military officers have stepped down amid rising tension from the rest -- from the arrest of dozens of officers plotting to overthrow the government. they include commanders of the navy, army, and air force. the move comes hours after