Massive Federal Reserve asset purchases are worrying its policymakers, with some wanting to wind them down before the jobs market heals significantly, according to official minutes released Wednesday.

London shares rallied at the end of trade on Wednesday on an increasing prospect of more cash stimulus from the Bank of England.

Britain's economy, at risk of a third recession in five years despite record employment, could see a fresh injection of cash stimulus, according to minutes of a Bank of England meeting published on Wednesday.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy declared Wednesday he had saved the country from economic disaster and vowed to crack down on corruption, in his first state of the nation address as he fended off a party slush-fund scandal.

European stock markets diverged on Wednesday, with London rallying on an increasing prospect of more cash stimulus from the Bank of England, while Paris dropped on profit-taking, analysts said.

Police in Athens fired tear gas at stone-throwing protestors Wednesday as thousands of Greeks walked off the job to join the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year and oppose austerity measures.

European stock markets diverged on Wednesday, with London rallying on an increasing prospect of more cash stimulus from the Bank of England, while Paris dropped on profit taking, analysts said.

Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year.

Greece was hit by a fresh strike on Wednesday called by leading unions against unrelenting austerity in the recession-weary nation ahead of an audit by international creditors, disrupting flights, ferries and hospital services.

South Korea's long-term external debt hit a record high in 2012 on steady foreign buying of local bonds, but its short-term debt fell to a six-year low, according to the latest central bank data.

Greece braced for a 24-hour general strike called by the two main unions in protest against austerity measures, ahead of a scheduled audit by the country's international creditors.

Investor sentiment in Germany has risen to levels last seen before the start of the three-year-old debt crisis, adding to signs that Europe's top economy is over the worst, a poll found on Tuesday.

Asian markets were mostly lower on Tuesday as Tokyo slipped following an uptick in the yen while Chinese shares fell on fears Beijing may act to rein in soaring property prices.

The Lithuanian central bank on Monday declared Ukio Bankas insolvent and opened talks on transferring the lender's assets to the Baltic state's smaller Siauliu Bankas.

The head of the European Central Bank on Monday outlined the risks of keeping interest rates low for a long period, suggesting the ECB is unlikely to slash rates further from already record lows.

The eurozone's current account surplus narrowed to 13.9 billion euros ($18.5 billion) in December from 15.9 billion euros in November, European Central Bank data showed on Monday.

Asian markets were mixed, with Tokyo surging thanks to a weakening yen after a weekend G20 meeting ended without accusing Japan of orchestrating a recent slide in its currency.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ramped up pressure on the central bank, signalling he may rein in the institution's independence if it fails to achieve an ambitious inflation target.

Asian markets were mixed Monday, with Tokyo surging thanks to a weakening yen after a weekend G20 meeting ended without accusing Japan of orchestrating a recent slide in its currency.

The yen weakened in Asia after G20 finance ministers pledged not to devalue their currencies and avoided targeting Tokyo over the recent plunge in the Japanese unit.