Respected leader, defender of the euro and the wider European dream, Jean-Claude Juncker steps down this week as head of the eurozone finance ministers group after eight often tumultuous years.

The Cyprus Central Bank said on Saturday that a study into how much the country's Greek-exposed banking system needs as part of an EU bailout package has yet to be finalised.

European share trading posted mixed results on Friday, with London gaining on Chinese growth data that beat expectations while Frankfurt and Paris slipped back on disappointing European and US figures.

London shares closed higher on Friday as investors took heart from Chinese growth data that beat expectations, traders said.

European shares were mixed on Friday as investors mulled Chinese growth data that beat expectations but marked the slowest rate of expansion for 13 years.

European share prices rose in London and Paris but fell in Frankfurt on Friday, as investors digested Chinese GDP data that beat expectations but marked the slowest growth rate for 13 years.

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem on Thursday announced his candidacy to become the next head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers.

European stocks advanced on Thursday on positive US economic data although the mining sector suffered after Rio Tinto announced a shock US$14-billion (10.5-billion-euro) write-down that sparked the resignation of its boss.

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem's reputation as a slightly stuffy bridge-builder will serve him well if, as expected, he becomes the head of the Eurogroup, coordinating austerity policies in the crisis-hit eurozone.

London shares advanced on Thursday on positive US economic data although the mining sector suffered after Rio Tinto announced a shock $14 billion (10.5 billion euro) write-down that sparked the resignation of its boss.

European stocks advanced on Thursday on positive economic data although the mining sector suffered after Rio Tinto announced a shock $14 bn (10.5 bn euro) write-down that sparked the resignation of its boss.

European stocks advanced on Thursday on positive economic data although the mining sector suffered after Rio Tinto announced a shock US$14-billion (10.5-billion-euro) write-down that sparked the resignation of its boss.

European stocks diverged on Thursday with the mining sector hit after Rio Tinto announced a shock US$14-billion (10.5-billion-euro) write-down that sparked the resignation of its boss.

London equities drifted lower at the start of trading on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 index of top companies down 0.09 percent at 6,098.34 points.

After lengthy delays, the International Monetary Fund unblocked part of its aid to Greece Wednesday, offering a brief respite to the recession-mired country grappling with austerity measures.

Italy reported strong trade surplus data for November on Wednesday and said the figures for 2012 as a whole could be the strongest for 10 years an encouraging sign for the the eurozone's third-biggest economy.

The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday it would release 3.2 billion euros ($4.3 billion) in aid to Greece that had been frozen for months amid fears about the country's ability to surmount its debt crisis.

London equities slid on Wednesday as investor sentiment was hit by more gloomy economic news with the World Bank and Germany cutting growth forecasts.

Germany slashed its estimate for growth this year by more than half on Wednesday, as the debt crisis hits the top European economy, but forecast a solid rebound in 2014.

Germany slashed Wednesday its estimate for growth this year by more than half, as Europe's debt crisis takes its toll on its top economy, but forecast a solid rebound in 2014.