Germany

ITALY

Germany's economic growth cooled to 0.3% in the second quarter, down from 0.5% expansion in Q1, the Federal Statistical Office has announced in its final reading.

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande will meet later this week to decide on whether to ease the terms of Greece's bailout package after the country yesterday pleaded for more time.

Guy Foster, head of portfolio strategy at Brewin Dolphin, discusses the progression of the eurozone crisis in light of the latest policy shift.

Better-than-expected German and French GDP figures have failed to offset peripheral weakness as the eurozone contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter.

Markets dipped into the red this afternoon after a weaker start in the US, as a round of poor corporate updates weighed on investor sentiment, compounding eurozone fears.

Moody's has warned the outlook for Germany's AAA credit rating is negative, citing risks to the country from a possible Greek exit and wider eurozone troubles.

German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble recently said the unnaturally low yield for bunds is not the financial godsend it first appeared to be. Rather, it is a real source of concern.

Equity markets around the world have struggled to make headway this year, with many major indices giving up gains made early on to leave them standing flat or down for 2012.

After two years of intense negotiations and 19 crisis summits, EU leaders are still deeply divided over what action is needed to solve the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.