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The article focuses on a banking rule book signed by a group of global central bank governors and bank regulators in Frankfurt, Germany to prevent mischief by banks that triggers financial crises.

FRANKFURT -- The European Central Bank warned Monday of a perilous year ahead as the sovereign debt crisis collides with slower economic growth and a dearth of market financing for banks. The dire prediction, contained in the E.C.B.'s twice-yearly report on the risks to the euro area financial system, came as E.U. governments fell short of their target to expand their backup plan for the euro by channeling more resources through the International Monetary Fund. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the economic development in Frankfurt, Germany driven by the increase of employment rate, growing domestic demand and consumer spending.

The article reports on the opinion of some executives of the European Central Bank based in Frankfurt, Germany towards the plan of buying private sector assets effective October 2014.

The article discusses the financial stability report of the European Central Bank (ECB). It notes that indications of the start of the recovery in the euro zone such as the reduced borrowed costs of troubled countries and the access of the banks in Ireland and Portugal in the money market. ECB vice president Vitor Consâncio states that the decline in the fear of the euro zone crisis was linked to combined central bank policy, political progress, and improved competitiveness.

The article focuses on the establishment the new headquarters of European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany which is a reminder of the institution that has supplanted the German central bank Bundesbank. It says that the headquarters of ECB were established by the European leaders as a symbol of its status as heir to Bundesbank. It adds that the ECB depends on Bundesbank to handle many of the back-office functions of the common currency due to the limited staff.

The article reports on the biggest loss of the German steel maker ThyssenKrupp. It says that the company battered by slow economic growth and corruption of scandals and loss 5 billion euros ($6.5 billion) for the year. Heinrich Hiesinger, the chief executive of ThyssenKrupp, said that a great deal has gone wrong in the past and the company attributed 3.6 billion euros loss to its unit Steel Americas and he referred it as a disaster.

The article reports on the closure of Opel plant in Bochum, Germany in 2016, due to the effects of the euro zone crisis. It states that car sales have fallen since 2007, and according to Opel, it is better to stop producing cars as the European automobile market declines that would result to job reduction. Stephen J. Girsky, president of General Motors Europe, adds that they will do everything possible to make the reduction as fairly as possible.

The article reports on the German hedge fund manager, Florian Homm who appear to the public after five years of hiding from stock-fixing accusations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It states that SEC accused Homm for manipulating the price of traded U.S. stocks, and buying and selling shares in different funds. Furthermore, in court documents he asserts that he disclosed his methods to Absolute Capital Management investors.

The article focuses on the fall of euro zone economy for a second straight quarter that addresses a recession in the region. It states that according to Eurostat, European Union statistic agency, the gross domestic product in the euro zone decline 0.1 percent in three months by September 2012. It mentions that the data showing Spain, Portugal and other countries which still remain far from the recovery stage increase the worries of European leaders.

The article offers information on the annual report on financial stability released by Bundesbank in 2012, which suggests that the risks to German financial system in 2012 are higher compared in 2011, considering the euro zone debt crisis. It states that the report demonstrate how the Bundesbank and the central bank of Europe differs in their views over the state of the crisis and how to address such problem. It says that the report warns over the potential threat from the European debt crisis.

The article discusses on the implications of the re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama for the business enterprises in Europe. It says that investors and business executives in Europe have more faith in Mitt Romney to direct the economy in the U.S. It also mentions that investors are skeptic whether a second term of Obama can bring growth to European companies and their U.S. counterparts to help offset the economic crisis in the euro zone.

FRANKFURT -- The city of Frankfurt ended months of tolerance on Monday toward the local Occupy movement, methodically clearing away a tent city at the doorstep of the European Central Bank after complaints that it had become an eyesore and health hazard more than a protest against global capitalism. After a court rejected an appeal by protesters, Frankfurt police officers in riot gear surrounded the park adjacent to the building that houses the European Central Bank, blocked off nearby streets and began dismantling tents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- If the past is any guide, European Union leaders will leave their summit meeting this week waving promises to weave the euro zone more tightly together. They are likely to back a plan to finance infrastructure projects in stricken countries. But unless the usual expressions of resolve are bolstered by concrete action or at least a binding timetable, financial markets are likely to continue to penalize Spain and other troubled countries by pushing up their borrowing costs to levels that will eventually prove unaffordable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- An organization that serves as an umbrella institution for the world's largest central banks on Sunday joined a growing list of institutions and leaders pushing euro zone countries to insure bank deposits and take other steps to prevent the European debt crisis from further undermining the global economy. The organization, the Bank for International Settlements, warned that central banks could not cope with the euro zone crisis alone. The central banks are nearing the limits of their resources, the organization said in its annual report, and it is time for policy makers to act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Under growing international and financial market pressure to fix the region's bank problems, European officials took a step on Tuesday toward surrendering a cherished national prerogative by proposing to knit banking systems together more closely. If endorsed by European leaders, the plan by the European Commission could spread the cost of bank rescues and demonstrate that governments are willing to cede power to the strong, centralized institutions that many economists say are needed to stabilize the currency union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Opel, the European unit of General Motors, outlined the latest plan to end more than a decade of losses on Monday, saying it would try to increase sales outside Europe and perhaps begin building Chevrolets on the Continent. It also said the company must use its factories more efficiently. In a statement, Opel's chief executive, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, did not directly address widespread speculation that the company might be forced to close at least one factory in Europe. He said the company would honor an agreement with workers not to close any facilities before the end of 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Unemployment in the euro zone rose to a new high in March, according to figures released on Wednesday. The data came a few days before crucial elections in France and Greece, and it is likely to prompt more intense calls for an easing of Europe's austerity drive. Unemployment in the 17 countries that belong to the euro zone rose to 10.9 percent in March from 10.8 percent in February, according to Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency. In March 2011, the rate was 9.9 percent, a number that illustrates the deterioration of the region's economy in the last year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- While the European Central Bank's emergency loan program late last year helped avoid a banking crisis, there is doubt over whether the action will promote economic growth by encouraging lending to businesses and consumers, according to a new report by the Bank for International Settlements. European banks remain highly leveraged and will not be able to substantially step up lending until they have further reduced risk, said Stephen Cecchetti, head of the monetary and economic department at the Bank for International Settlements, which acts as a clearinghouse for the world's central banks and released its quarterly report late Sunday. Emergency loans provided by the European Central Bank will help stabilize banks, but it will take a while for the money to reach bank customers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank, said on Thursday that emergency cash provided to financial institutions had had ''a powerful effect'' in helping steady the euro zone economy, allowing the central bank to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1 percent. The Bank of England also kept its main interest rate unchanged at a record low, 0.5 percent, amid concerns that the economic turmoil on the Continent and high oil prices would hurt the British economy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- Life is already pretty miserable for European makers of midprice cars, and from the looks of the Geneva auto show, it is about to get worse. Companies like Opel, the European unit of General Motors, and PSA Peugeot Citroen of France already suffer from a surplus of production at a time when the European car market is shrinking and the economy is under stress from the debt crisis. At the same time, they are under pressure at the low end of the market from the likes of the South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- A day after the European Central Bank showered the Continent's banking system with cash, the German central bank appeared to be growing more openly restive about the risk of lending to banks that would go out of business without access to cheap money. Resistance from the Bundesbank, the largest central bank in the euro zone, could prevent the central bank from offering additional large cash injections, like the one allocated Wednesday. That would put the onus on governments to take control of the European Union's debt crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- The European Central Bank acted on Tuesday to prevent a potential collapse of the Greek banking system after the country was declared by a large ratings agency to be in ''selective default,'' making Greek bonds ineligible as collateral for loans from the central bank. Standard & Poor's issued the most recent downgrade late Monday because of the debt-reduction deal reached last week with Greece's private sector creditors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Domestic politics in euro zone countries emerged again on Tuesday as a serious obstacle to resolving the European debt crisis, contributing to a decision by officials to postpone a crucial meeting they had planned for Friday. The setbacks illustrated again how hard it has been to reconcile impatient financial markets with democratic processes. Ireland said it would hold a referendum on an agreement to impose fiscal discipline on members of the euro zone. The prospect of more political turmoil seemed to unsettle investors, even though the country's approval is not needed for the accord to take effect. Irish voters have a history of rejecting European Union measures at the polls; the euro dropped after the news before recovering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- A flood of central bank cash appears to have averted a credit squeeze in the euro zone but has not yet led to significant growth in lending to businesses, according to data published on Monday by the European Central Bank. Loans to businesses, not including banks or other financial corporations, increased 0.7 percent in January from a year earlier, the central bank said. That was slower than in December, when loans to nonfinancial corporations rose at an annual rate of 1.1 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- Torsten Emmel may have looked like an innocent florist, a gentle guy with a shaved head and an apron, clipping the stems of fresh freesia. In fact, he was on the verge of breaking the law. Mr. Emmel's crime: Setting a placard on the sidewalk outside his shop advertising that he would stay open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It was, after all, Mother's Day. But a city inspector noticed the sign and warned Mr. Emmel that it was illegal to stay open so long on a Sunday. Close earlier or be fined, the inspector said. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Few would begrudge Mario Draghi his boast last week that he and the European Central Bank had prevented a disastrous credit crisis by showering banks with cheap loans in December. But beneath the gratitude toward Mr. Draghi, the president of the central bank, lurks a fear that the easy money could simply be creating the conditions for another banking crisis several years from now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- The European Central Bank left its main interest rate unchanged Thursday, as policy makers waited to see whether signs of improving growth meant that the euro zone economy had already put the worst behind it. Separately, the Bank of England also left its benchmark rate unchanged Thursday at a record low, but decided to expand its asset-buying program by $:50 billion, or $79 billion, to $:325 billion to help the British economy avoid falling back into a recession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- European leaders sought to limit damage from a ratings agency's downgrade of nine countries on Friday, or even turn the news to their advantage, saying that it showed the need to impose more austerity or else do more to stimulate growth. Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, said Saturday that the downgrade by Standard & Poor's meant the euro area must speed up measures to create a more centralized currency union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- The head of the Swiss central bank unexpectedly resigned Monday, saying that doubts about currency trades he and his wife made last year threatened to undermine his ability to focus on steering the bank through a global financial crisis. The departure of the bank chief, Philipp M. Hildebrand, 48, cut short the public career of a major international advocate of stricter banking regulation. He quit as the Swiss National Bank fought to keep the country's currency from becoming so strong that Swiss companies could not sell products abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Philipp M. Hildebrand, chairman of Switzerland's central bank and a well-known architect of tougher global banking regulations, came under pressure Wednesday after a Swiss publication reported that he profited from currency trades made before and after he oversaw steps to prevent the Swiss franc from becoming too strong. The report by Weltwoche, a weekly magazine seen as having ties to the rightist Swiss People's Party, which has been a critic of Mr. Hildebrand, said that in October he made 75,000 francs, or $79,600, from dollar trades. Mr. Hildebrand, the magazine said, acquired dollars before the Swiss National Bank, the central bank, announced measures in September to check the rise of the franc and protect Swiss exporters. The magazine cited copies of statements provided by an employee of a private bank where Mr. Hildebrand had an account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- The German economy remained mostly immune to the malaise afflicting the rest of the euro zone in December, with data released Tuesday showing that unemployment fell slightly during the month and that the average number of jobless people for the full year was the lowest in two decades. With nearly half a million job openings, Germany appears likely to continue to resist the downward pull of the sovereign debt crisis, at least for several months. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 6.8 percent in December from 6.9 percent in November. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- The European Central Bank unexpectedly named Peter Praet, a Belgian, its de facto chief economist on Tuesday, breaking a tradition in which German hard-liners occupied that crucial policy-making post. Mr. Praet, a former economist at the International Monetary Fund who has been a member of the central bank's executive board since June, will succeed Jurgen Stark as head of the economics department. Mr. Stark resigned at the end of 2011 because he had opposed the bank's intervention in sovereign bond markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- The Frankfurt version of the Occupy Wall Street movement has many of the trappings of the New York City original, including a tattered cluster of tents, a location close to the beating heart of financial power and a diverse group of activists trying to come up with a unifying demand. But the Occupy Frankfurt encampment, spread out on the front lawn of the European Central Bank, is missing one feature of Zuccotti Park in New York: the police. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- For someone with a reputation for caution, Mario Draghi is off to an audacious start as president of the European Central Bank. Since taking office a little more than a month ago, he has presided over an interest rate cut, signaled a greater willingness to deploy the bank's resources to fight the European debt crisis and turned up the pressure on governments to remake the euro zone. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- Germany's stature as an island of stability in the European debt crisis was shaken Wednesday when it fell far short of selling all the government bonds it put up for auction. Investors are beginning to question whether there are any havens left in Europe after German bonds, which the government uses to raise money for operations, got a surprisingly bad reception. The sale -- more than one-third of the bonds found no buyers -- helped push down stocks and contributed to the atmosphere of fear that prevails among the countries, including Germany, that share the euro currency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Banks clamored for emergency funds from the European Central Bank on Tuesday, borrowing the most since early 2009 in a clear sign that the euro region's financial institutions are having trouble obtaining credit at reasonable rates on the open market. Indebted governments among the 17 members of the European Union that use the euro are also finding it harder to borrow at affordable rates as investors lose confidence in their creditworthiness. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT - Josef Ackermann unexpectedly canceled plans to become chairman of Deutsche Bank when he retires as chief executive in May, possibly heralding his departure from the public stage after a decade as one of the most powerful and controversial figures in European banking. The announcement Monday came on the same day as reports that prosecutors in Munich had searched the executive offices of Deutsche Bank on suspicion that Mr. Ackermann and other current and former top executives had given false testimony in a long-running civil lawsuit. Deutsche Bank denied any wrongdoing. The timing of Mr. Ackermann's announcement appeared to be a coincidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- If there is a Greek alive who can command the trust of international creditors and European leaders, it is probably Lucas Papademos. But the bigger question may be whether the reserved economist, a former vice president of the European Central Bank, can win the trust of the exhausted Greek people and accomplish anything lasting in what may be little more than a cameo as prime minister. Mr. Papademos, who was named as prime minister on Thursday, has been far removed from the hurly-burly of Greek politics, which is probably a plus, considering that Greeks' trust in their elected officials is at rock bottom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Jean-Claude Trichet's last few weeks as president of the European Central Bank may be his most contentious. Mr. Trichet is scheduled to hold the last news conference of his eight-year term on Thursday in Berlin, amid speculation that the bank could cut its benchmark interest rate just three months after raising it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- This was supposed to be the month that European banks went back to debt markets to refill their coffers. It is not working out that way. On the contrary, debt issuance by banks has slowed to a trickle at the same time that short-term interbank lending is drying up. The financing drought raises questions about whether banks will have enough money to refinance their own long-term debt and still meet demand for loans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- Norbert Reithofer, the chief executive of BMW, correctly called the last big auto industry crisis in 2008. So if the sage of Munich was predicting another sharp downturn, that would be cause for concern. But like his peers at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday, the ebullient Mr. Reithofer was remarkably sanguine. With the exception of Spain, Greece and several other European countries, Mr. Reithofer said in an interview, BMW has not seen any sign that the sovereign debt crisis is hurting car sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT -- There may be no better cure for a banker suffering the sovereign debt blues than a new Porsche, and few cities with more bankers in need of solace than Frankfurt. So it is all too fitting that the biannual Frankfurt Motor Show, which opens its doors this week, is defying the euro crisis with dozens of new models, including the latest incarnation of the Porsche 911. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURTBMW'S designers and engineers have long vowed that the company's eventual battery-powered cars would not be geekmobiles but true BMWs, with all the zip, handling and style that the German automaker is known for. Norbert Reithofer, the chief executive, is fond of saying that an environmentally friendly auto should not be ''a vow of poverty on wheels.'' BMW fans can soon decide for themselves whether the company has delivered on its promise. On Friday in Frankfurt, BMW unveiled working prototypes of the i8, a plug-in hybrid sport coupe that will carry a six-figure price tag, and the i3, a four-seat battery-powered compact car aimed at a wider market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRANKFURT EUROPE'S latest plan to prop up Greece looks suspiciously like a plan to bolster European banks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- Private holders of Greek debt will probably be asked to share the pain if the country gets easier terms on European Union bailout loans, Standard & Poor's said on Monday as it downgraded the country's debt once again. The ratings agency's forecast that Greece faces a de facto debt restructuring put European policy makers in a familiar position: forced onto the defensive by a relentless flow of negative news and market reaction that far outpaced the speed of government decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- BMW, the German luxury car builder, said on Monday that it would create a sub-brand known as BMW i to market a line of battery-powered cars starting in 2013, and gave the most complete picture yet of how the vehicles made of carbon fiber and aluminum would look. Though the introduction of the so-called Megacity vehicle is two years away, the promotional campaign has been under way for at least a year, with BMW executives slowly revealing information about the new line's design and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FRANKFURT -- Axel Weber took himself out of the running Friday to become president of the European Central Bank, leaving deep uncertainty about who else can handle a job that is crucial to the survival of the euro. One thing is already clear: European politics, far more than credentials and experience, will determine who succeeds Jean-Claude Trichet as president of the E.C.B. at the end of October. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]