BERLIN (Reuters) – German President Christian Wulff, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, said he did use the villas of business friends for private holidays, the latest twist in a scandal that could cost him his job after just 18 months.

Although the president’s role is largely ceremonial, damaging headlines reflect badly on Merkel as she pushed for his appointment.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany has no plan to “incentivise” bidders at its debt auctions by offering yields above market rates next year, despite having had some uncovered auctions in 2011, the head of the German debt agency told Reuters on Wednesday.

While yields in euro zone periphery countries’ bond auctions have been hitting record highs in recent months on concerns about the debt crisis, safe-haven Germany’s yields have hit record lows, making its debt less attractive.

BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – When Tino Blaesi joined the solar sector gold rush, he thought his career was made. Seven years later, he is looking for a job outside the industry after his company slashed more than a third of its workforce in one day.

Workers in Germany’s once booming solar energy industry face a shakeout of major proportions following declines in the price of solar panels over the past year.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Praise for Angela Merkel’s tough negotiating skills in forcing through a deal on European budget rules has given way to warnings that the chancellor risks using up her political credit among Germans.

Britain’s rejection of last week’s agreement, backed by the EU’s other 26 leaders, gave Merkel respite from foreign media caricatures casting her as a Kaiser or Fuehrer intent on dominating Europe.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Praise for Angela Merkel’s tough negotiating skills in forcing through a deal on European budget rules has given way to warnings that the chancellor risks using up her political credit among Germans.

Britain’s rejection of last week’s agreement, backed by the EU’s other 26 leaders, gave Merkel respite from foreign media caricatures casting her as a Kaiser or Fuehrer intent on dominating Europe.

BERLIN (Reuters) – German exports hit a new record in September, helping the trade surplus rise to its highest level since June 2008, in a sign Europe’s largest economy was still outperforming peers even as clouds gathered over the horizon.

Analysts said the strong data, contrasting with figures from France showing the trade deficit widening more than expected, indicated exports would drive solid third quarter growth.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s manufacturing sector contracted in October for the first time in more than two years as new orders fell for a fourth month in a row, data showed on Wednesday in the latest sign Europe’s bulwark economy is set for a sharp slowdown.

Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell for a sixth consecutive month in October to hit 49.1 — just above an initial estimate of 48.9 but below the key 50 line that divides growth from contraction.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s manufacturing sector contracted in October for the first time in more than two years as new orders fell for a fourth month in a row, data showed on Wednesday in the latest sign Europe’s bulwark economy is set for a sharp slowdown.

Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell for a sixth consecutive month in October to hit 49.1 — just above an initial estimate of 48.9 but below the key 50 line that divides growth from contraction.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s manufacturing sector contracted in October for the first time in more than two years as new orders fell for a fourth month in a row, data showed on Wednesday in the latest sign Europe’s bulwark economy is set for a sharp slowdown.

Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell for a sixth consecutive month in October to hit 49.1 — just above an initial estimate of 48.9 but below the key 50 line that divides growth from contraction.

BERLIN, Oct 28 (Reuters) – A German court on Friday
suspended a parliamentary committee’s right to approve urgent
actions by the euro zone’s bailout fund, potentially delaying
decision-making in Europe’s top economy on key moves to tackle
the bloc’s crisis.

A spokeswoman for the Constitutional Court said it would
investigate whether the planned use of a small closed-door
committee of 9 German lawmakers to consider urgent matters
relating to the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF)
infringed on lawmakers’ rights.