Europe

Ireland's GDP contracted 1.2% in the second quarter and confounded analysts' expectations of 0.5% growth, according to an initial estimate released today.

Fund managers expect the Basel Committee's new rules on bank capital adequacy to have a major impact on financial sector debt and equity markets.

The FTSE 100 opened at 5,211, rising close to 6 points or 0.11% in early trading following a flurry of M&A activity.

Graham Harvey questions the value of new EU rules stating consumers are told the total premium they will pay over the life of their policy

Eurozone gross domestic product grew at its fastest pace in more than three years in Q2, official figures show.

Alan Brown, the Schroders group CIO, explains why it is "highly likely" Germany will exit the euro in the medium term.

Should we listen to economists or companies about what lies ahead for Europe? asks BlackRock's Nigel Bolton.

Oliver Russ of Argonaut Capital Partners, talks about the benefits of European equity income

Trevor Greetham, manager of Fidelity's Multi Asset Strategic fund, looks at how the crisis in Greece and peripheral Europe may affect your clients.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to exit the euro unless German Chancellor Angela Merkel backed the EU's €750bn safety net for the single currency.