Only recently hailed as the saviors of the world economy, emerging markets had a tough year in 2013, hit by slow growth, market instability and social unrest that have worried investors -- though some analysts say the fear is overblown.

In November, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the rich world's number-crunching club, lowered its global growth forecast for 2014 by nearly half a point, to 2.7 percent, because of the slowdown in emerging-market economies (EMEs).

Cash is so cheap these days that investors have been borrowing and ploughing them in assets from artwork to wine to bitcoins, betting that prices would rise.

And rise they did, some even setting records, but market watchers are now warning that asset bubbles may be forming and could well burst in 2014.

Slovenia is to learn later this week if it has enough money to shore up its banks on its own or become the latest eurozone country to need outside help.

The government and central bank will publish later this week -- the day is still unclear -- the results of EU-supervised stress tests of its banks which have become weighed down by assets that have lost value as the economy has been gripped by a long recession.

The rate of inflation in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, inched higher this month after hitting a three-year low the previous month, final official data showed on Wednesday.

The cost of living rose by 1.3 percent this month on an annual basis, compared with 1.2 percent in September, the federal statistics office Destatis said in a statement.

Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade with few leads to spur fresh market movement, but retained support from signs of resurgent demand in the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, analysts said.

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for January delivery, was down six cents at $98.45 in afternoon Asian trade while Brent North Sea crude for January eased one cent to $109.37.

Short-term visitors from Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will not need visas to enter Britain from next year, interior minister Theresa May announced on Monday.

Travelers from the three Gulf nations will need to obtain an electronic visa waiver document online in order to enter Britain without a visa, May said, adding that the new rules will come into force on January 1.

American Airlines emerged as the world's largest airline Monday, combining with U.S. Airways after a hard-fought battle to overcome U.S. competition concerns.

AMR Corporation, the parent of American Airlines, and U.S. Airways Group announced they had completed the deal after AMR emerged from bankruptcy protection.

EU finance ministers will try Tuesday to take the next step toward "Banking Union," the new common rules meant to ensure banks help the economy, not destroy it through reckless risk-taking.

The aim appears simple but putting the system in place is politically fraught given the huge additional powers Brussels could acquire.

Chinese speculators have seen Bitcoin values plunge, soar and plunge again within days, but say the virtual currency's extreme volatility is a profit opportunity despite the white-knuckle ride.

China is the world's biggest market for trading Bitcoins, but around $5 billion was wiped off the value of the currency's global stock within an hour of an announcement from Beijing's central bank in early December, banning financial institutions from dealing in it.

EU finance ministers face tough talks Tuesday on the next key step to a "Banking Union," the new regulatory system to ensure banks avoid the risky excesses which brought Europe to its knees.

The 28 are trying to reconcile deep differences over a Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) meant to stabilize, and if necessary, close a failing bank before it does too much damage.