European markets marked a pause on Monday with London closed for a holiday and after US jobs data and central banks decisions sparked a huge rally last week. In early afternoon trading, Frankfurt's DAX 30 nudged 0.03-percent higher to 8,124.53 points, while in Paris the CAC 40 lost 0.29 percent to 3,901.74 points. "After the week of the central banks, investors will be able to take a breather," economists from brokerage Aurel BGC in Paris said in a note. "Investors should remain on the impression left last week by the two central banks," they said.

By Krista Hughes and Michael O'Boyle MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's central bank on Friday brushed off a recent pickup in inflation, keeping the door ajar for a possible further relaxation in credit costs if easy-money policies in advanced economies fans capital inflows. The Banco de Mexico held its benchmark rate at a record low of 4 percent, as expected in a Reuters poll, after it cut borrowing costs for the first time in nearly four years in March.

By Brian Ellsworth CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's designation of central bank President Nelson Merentes as finance minister signals the OPEC nation may be headed toward a more pragmatic approach to rising inflation and slowing growth. Merentes, an ally of the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez who served two previous stints as finance minister, is seen making rigid currency controls more flexible to ensure better distribution of dollars to the import-dependent economy.

By Alexandra Alper MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's government wants to boost lending by making it easier for banks to collect on guarantees for bad loans and by giving regulators new powers to punish firms that do not lend enough, according to a draft of a new banking reform. The proposal, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, is due to be announced next week and is part of a raft of measures designed to ramp up growth in Latin America's second largest economy.