AFP World Economic News Summary

The top world economic stories on Friday:

G20-Russia-economy-finance-forex-politics

MOSCOW: Finance ministers from G20 states gathered in Moscow for their first meeting in the Russian capital aimed at reassuring markets that the world's economic powers would not slug it out in "currency wars" to boost national growth.

EU-eurozone-economy-trade-indicator

BRUSSELS: The 17-nation eurozone posted a 2012 trade surplus of 81.8 billion euros ($108 billion), more than reversing a deficit of 15.7 billion euros in 2011, official data showed.

India-Italy-defence-corruption-Finmeccanica

NEW DELHI: India said it had started the process of cancelling a $748-million deal for 12 Italian helicopters amid allegations that the contract was won through kickbacks.

France-economy-growth-Germany-ECB

BERLIN: A top member of the European Central Bank called on France to stick to its deficit-reduction targets after Paris indicated it might miss its goal due to worse-than-expected growth figures.

Russia-economy-stocks-listing-MICEX

MOSCOW: The Moscow Exchange was priced at $4.2 billion in a disappointing flotation that valued Russia's main bourse at the lowest end of its own estimates.

Germany-banking-company-earnings-pay-Commerzbank

FRANKFURT: Commerzbank said it is slashing employee bonuses for 2012 with chief executive Martin Blessing forgoing his altogether following the bank's "unsatisfactory" performance last year.

France-luxury-fashion-company-earnings-PPR

PARIS: French luxury and retail group PPR said net profit in 2012 was up 6.3 percent from a year earlier to 1.05 billion euros ($1.4 billion) on solid growth in its luxury business.

Germany-auto-company-structure-cuts-layoffs-Bosch

FRANKFURT: Bosch, the German car parts maker, believes it will have to cut jobs in response to stagnating business in Europe, the group's chief executive said in a magazine interview.

Britain-SAfrica-mining-company-earnings-AngloAmerican

LONDON: Miner Anglo American posted an annual net loss of $1.49 billion (1.11 billion euros) after taking a $4.6-billion hit on the value of its Minas-Rio iron-ore project in Brazil and platinum assets.

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http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130215/afp-world-economic-news-summary