BRIEF-Toll Brothers reports qtrly earnings per share $0.42

* Bucharest stock index is highest since Jan 2008 * Improved bank prospects buoy stock indices in CEE * Czech central bank reiterates guidance on crown cap By Sandor Peto BUDAPEST, Feb 22 Romania’s Banca Transilvania stocks surged to a record high on Wednesday in continued reaction to expectations of growth, boosting the Bucharest stock index in a reflection of general optimism over Central European banks.

Participants keen to conclude Basel III reforms -committee boss

Feb 22 All participants in talks on new Basel III banking reforms are keen to bring the process to a conclusion, Basel Committee Secretary General William Coen told the French Senate’s finance commission on Wednesday. Two people close to the talks told Reuters this month that banking regulators due to meet in March were not expected to agree on capital requirements rules intended to keep banks stable during a financial crisis.

Emerging Markets-Emerging stocks sail to new 19-month highs

Feb 22 Wall Street’s record run helped emerging stocks sail to new 19-month highs on Wednesday with year-to-date gains of over 10 percent, while the rand firmed ahead of a key budget speech by the finance minister. MSCI’s emerging equity index firmed half a percent , led by a 1 percent rise in Hong Kong after New York shares hit record highs and European bourses were boosted by upbeat factory data in Germany and France.

Thousands continue protests against government in Romania

Protesters display the Romanian national flag colours during a demonstration in front of the government building in Bucharest, Romania, February 12, 2017. Inquam Photos/Liviu Florin Albei via Romanians light up fireworks follwowing the announcment made by Romanian PM, Sorin Grindeanu, in Bucharest, Romania, February 4, 2017.

Romanian justice minister resigns as anti-corruption protests grow

Iordache wrote the government decree, which decriminalized abuse of power offenses involving sums below $47,500, as well as clemency and reduced prison terms for government officials convicted of corruption offenses . Although the Romanian Supreme Court has not ruled on its legitimacy, the bill, announced last week, would shield many politicians from prosecution.

Romania: government faces no-confidence vote

Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis told lawmakers Tuesday the country is in a “fully-fledged” political crisis, after hun… . A anti-government protester holds a poster depicting the leader of the ruling Social Democratic party Liviu Dragnea in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017.

Tyson Foods quarterly profit jumps 28.6 pct

Feb 6 Tyson Foods Inc, the biggest U.S. meat processor, reported a 28.6 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by higher exports of beef and pork and lower livestock costs. Net income attributable to Tyson rose to $593 million, or $1.59 per share, in the first quarter ended Dec. 31, from $461 million, or $1.15 per share, a year earlier.

Romanian protesters get key concession, seek more changes

The largest anti-government crowds since the violent 1989 revolution that toppled dictator Nicolae Ceausescu succeeded Sunday in pressuring Romania’s new government to repeal a hastily adopted decree that would have eased penalties for official corruption. The law, opposed by the influential Romanian Orthodox Church, would have weakened the country’s emerging anti-corruption effort, which has begun to make progress against a ruling culture accustomed to acting with impunity.

‘We woke up in 1989’ – Romanian graft decree turns back the clock

When fire tore through a Bucharest nightclub in 2015, victims were rushed to the city’s Floreasca hospital – but its newly-built, multi-million-euro burns unit was standing idle and could help no one. Sixty-four people eventually died and the Social Democrat government was brought down within days by popular anger over the failure to enforce fire-safety regulations at the Colectiv nightclub, a failure blamed on endemic corruption and negligence.

Romania sees massive anti-corruption protests

More than 250,000 Romanians have protested against new government measures to decriminalise corruption, seen as the biggest retreat on reforms since the country joined the European Union in 2007. Romania’s top judicial watchdog, the Superior Magistrates’ Council , earlier in the day filed a constitutional court challenge to the decree unveiled by the new Social Democrat government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu.

Romania’s govt decriminalizes official misconduct

Protesters march outside the Justice Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. Some 10.000 people marched through the Romanian capital and other cities to protest a government proposal to pardon thousands of prisoners which critics say could reverse the anti-corruption fight.

Rick Steves’ Europe

RICK STEVES’ EUROPE offers a fresh perspective on the best travel advice, including where to stay, what to see and how to get around in Europe. Rick Steves shares his extensive knowledge of European history, art and culture.

41 get hospital care after nightclub fire in Bucharest

In this image provided by the Romania’s General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations , a firefighter approaches the burning compound after a fire erupted in the early hours at the upmarket Bamboo nightclub, in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Jan 21, 2017. Fire engulfed a popular nightclub in the Romanian capital Saturday, sending more than 40 people to hospitals for treatment including one who was seriously injured.

The long, strange odyssey of bringing Oscar fave ‘Toni Erdmann’ to the screen

But the upstart German filmmaker Maren Ade employed an especially unconventional technique in greeting the stars of her new picture “Toni Erdmann” for the Romanian portion of production. Ade showed up at the down-on-its-heels Bucharest airport as an over-the-top character – tricked out as a goofball mogul, pouring Champagne wearing bathroom slippers in the back of a white stretch limo.

The long, strange odyssey of bringing Oscar fave ‘Toni Erdmann’ to the screen

But the upstart German filmmaker Maren Ade employed an especially unconventional technique in greeting the stars of her new picture “Toni Erdmann” for the Romanian portion of production. Ade showed up at the down-on-its-heels Bucharest airport as an over-the-top character – tricked out as a goofball mogul, pouring Champagne wearing bathroom slippers in the back of a white stretch limo.