The International Monetary Fund could change the size of a $4.8 billion financing program for Egypt, its Middle East director said on Tuesday ahead of fresh talks in Cairo on the package in the coming days.

"The size may vary. It's a question of needs and what's required," Masood Ahmed told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of regional finance ministers in Dubai.

Spanish government figures show that the number of people registered as unemployed edged down by a little under 5,000 in March, the first reduction for the month in five years.

The Labor Ministry said Tuesday that the decline showed the government's policies are working. The scale of the task remains huge though as the number registered as unemployed stands at 5.04 million.

Greece's central bank governor says the country's four largest lenders will be given until the end of May to complete a major recapitalization program.

Bank of Greece governor George Provopoulos told state-run NET television late Monday that the banks — National, Eurobank, Alpha, and Piraeus — would be given an extension of up to a month for the program backed by bailout funds.

Australia's central bank kept interest rates on hold at 3.0 percent Tuesday, saying global downside risks appeared to have eased but domestic pressures were lingering.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens said there were a "number of indications that the substantial easing of monetary policy during late 2011 and 2012 is having an expansionary effect" but more time was needed.

The Bank of Japan's new chief said Tuesday policymakers would live up to market expectations for "bold" monetary easing, ahead of his first policy meeting since taking up the post last month.

The two-day meeting, which starts Wednesday, comes as BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has repeatedly talked up his plans to stoke the economy and reverse years of deflation that has crimped private spending and corporate investment.

Cash-strapped Egypt on Monday hiked the price of subsidized cooking gas by 60 percent, triggering market chaos, officials and media reported, ahead of a visit by the IMF for talks on a $4.8-billion loan.

Ahram Online quoted an official from the domestic trade and supply ministry as saying the price of subsidized standard gas cylinders had been set at eight dollars ($1.15), from five pounds ($0.73) previously.

The United States put its proposed trade partnership with the European Union to the public Monday, marking another step toward creating the world's largest free-trade area.

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said it was seeking public comments on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, including regarding U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating positions.

The Cypriot president pledged Monday that not even his own family will be immune from a commission of inquiry into allegations of wrongdoing in the run-up to a crippling eurozone bailout.

President Nicos Anastasiades was responding to allegations that family members of leading politicians had taken advantage of privileged information to protect their assets from a hit on bank deposits imposed by European Union-led creditors last month.

Armenia's last national airline, Armavia, on Monday ceased operations and launched bankruptcy procedures due to grave financial problems, the company said.

"Over the last three years, the owner of Armavia airline has been investing finances from (his) other businesses in order to support the air carrier," Armavia said in a statement.

Cairo's international airport will be partly closed at night due to fewer incoming flights and to save energy, reports said on Monday, highlighting the economic crisis sweeping Egypt.

Two runways will be closed for four hours starting from 1.30 am (2330 GMT) "in order to save energy", said civil aviation minister Wael al-Maadawi in statements carried by the press.