Eurozone

Italy sold €3bn of five-year bonds, the maximum target, at the highest yield in more than 14 years as Mario Monti seeks to form a new government.

Europe's €1trn rescue fund has been forced to deny it bought some of its own debt following a report over the weekend that investors have rejected its bonds because of the worsening European debt crisis.

GOLD

Since inception, the euro area has been an accident in waiting. Moreover, it was at a turning point in the cycle that the initial skid was always likely to occur.

This quarter has been a tough one for the fund management industry as continuing uncertainty over the eurozone debt crisis hit sales and dragged down assets under management.

France is drawing up plans to create a breakaway organisation of eurozone countries with its own treaty, parliament and headquarters.

So, Silvio Berlusconi has finally confirmed he is leaving. The announcement caught the headlines of the newspapers across the world. And you could almost hear the cheer across Europe.

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi faces renewed calls to resign after he failed to secure a parliamentary majority in a budget vote among MPs.

A week of near farce in Greek politics has ended with a government of national unity accepting the previously arranged deal.

Markets moved lower on Monday as fears over Greece and Italy remained despite the imminent formation of a Greek coalition government.