Home Retail, Britain's biggest household goods retailer, posted a fifth straight fall in annual profit, as its customers continued to bear the brunt of the economic downturn.

The rate on French 10-year bonds fell to a fresh record below 1.7 percent on Tuesday as investors piled into the debt instrument on markets that are benefiting from abundant liquidity.

Inflation in the eurozone has fallen to a three-year low and unemployment has hit a new record, cementing expectations of an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank later this week.

Spain's economy shrank in the first quarter of 2013, official data showed Tuesday, as a job-destroying recession held its grip on the struggling nation.

Germany's unemployment rate held steady in April, the Federal Labor Agency reported Tuesday, while a survey showed German consumers' mood remained robust — two new signs that Europe's largest economy is continuing to weather the European financial crisis.

Confidence in the 17-state eurozone fell sharply in April, data showed on Monday, adding pressure to the European Central Bank to make moves to boost the economy when it meets later this week.

Rating agency Moody's believes Italy may still eventually need to seek a bailout despite forming a new government and avoiding immediate crisis.

Spain reported Monday a fall in annual inflation in April as energy costs tumbled in the recession-hit economy.

It seems nothing is too big for Switzerland's watch industry, whose vast annual Baselworld trade fair is a touchstone for the health of a sector which has bucked the downbeat global economy.

Sri Lanka is set to re-fleet its loss-making national carrier with 10 new Airbus aircraft in a deal that could be worth over US$2.5 billion, a government official and a media report said on Sunday.