Markets ease ahead of Chinese data

LONDON (AP) — Markets gave up some recent gains Wednesday after more downbeat European economic news and ahead of a raft of Chinese data that will shed light on the state of the world's second-largest economy.

Japan to 'monitor' Europe reaction to Hollande win

Japan said Monday it will "carefully monitor" how Europe reacts to the election in France of Socialist Francois Hollande as the continent seeks to navigate a series of debt crises.