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• German Stocks Still Find Love After Major Rally

  

  Germany's Dax index has risen 20 percent over the past year, reaching new five-year highs, even as the economy has slowed in recent months, but analysts say German stocks are still attractive because of the export potential of many of the companies.

• ‘It's Horrible Here,’ UK May Tell EU Migrants

  

  There are hardly any jobs, generally low wages and it rains all the time: Not the usual picture that a country wants to portray of its culture or economy. However, U.K politicians are considering launching a negative publicity campaign in Eastern Europe to deter potential migrants from coming to the U.K. in search of jobs.

• Less Is More for Louis Vuitton as It Pulls Expansion

  

  Louis Vuitton, the world's biggest luxury brand in terms of sales, is planning to dampen its expansion worldwide and focus on high-end products to preserve its exclusive image, said Bernard Arnault, chief executive of parent LVMH.

• Credit Agricole Hit by 3.8 Billion Euros in Charges

  

  French bank Credit Agricole warned on Friday that its fourth quarter results would be battered by 3.8 billion euros ($5.16 billion) in charges as the French bank reels from ill-timed acquisitions from before the 2008 financial crisis.

• Barclays in Qatar Loan Probe

  

  UK authorities are probing an allegation that Barclays loaned Qatar money to invest in the bank as part of its cash call at the height of the financial crisis in 2008, which enabled the bank to avoid a UK government bailout.

• EU Faces Up to China in Simmering Trade Row

  

  In September, the head of Europe's biggest employers' group presented a crystal horse sculpture to Wen Jiabao, the outgoing Chinese premier, at an EU-China business summit in Brussels. The Financial Times reports.

• Why Talk of a ‘Great Rotation’ May Be Overblown

  

  Talk of a "Great Rotation" into equities from bonds this year as risk appetite returns is overblown, say analysts, adding that a big shift in market positioning is unlikely to come until stronger signs emerge that the global economy has turned a corner.

• Lawson Urges Full Nationalization of RBS

  

  Nigel Lawson, former Tory chancellor, has urged George Osborne to fully nationalize the Royal Bank of Scotland, attacking the banking industry's bonus culture and what he says are its overrated "star" traders, the Financial Times reports.

• Rome Court Summons Bank of Italy Over Monte Paschi

  

  A court in Rome has summoned Bank of Italy officials for questioning on the state bailout of Monte dei Paschi, as scandal spread over the trading that plunged the world's oldest bank into trouble.

• Euro Zone Still Waiting for Its Marshall Plan

  

  When European leaders agreed last summer on a "growth compact" designed to pump more than two hundred billion dollars into the euro zone economy, it was hailed as modern-day Marshall Plan. The Global Post reports.

• Spain Stocks Brace as Short-Selling Ban Ends

  

  Spain's short-selling ban came to an end on Thursday but analysts say that although the lifting of the ban is a sign of improved sentiment, further downward pressure should be expected in the coming weeks.

• Is Samsung Closing the Image Gap With Apple?

  

  Millions of smartphone users around the world who are now viewing Samsung's mobile devices in a new light and opting for them over Apple's much sought-after premium products as Samsung's deep market penetration is boosting its brand image, along with smartphone sales.

• Draghi's New Powers Under Monte Paschi Spotlight

  

  As European Central Bank head prepares to become banking supervisor for the euro zone, he can ill afford the charge that Italy's central bank let scandal-hit Monte Paschi off the hook with woeful oversight.

• Germany Slowdown? Not Anymore, Say Analysts

  

  After a slowdown in the fourth quarter of 2012, Germany's economy seems to be getting back on track and some analysts now believe Europe's largest economy will go from strength to strength in 2013.

• Deutsche Bank CEO: Major Progress on Capital Ratio

  

  Deutsche Bank shares rose 2.2 percent on Thursday, despite the company posting a 2.6 billion euro ($3.5 billion) pre-tax loss, after the lender reported capital ratios that were better than expected.

• Stimulus Will Do Little for Spain's Worsening Debt

  Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is expected to announce stimulus measures as soon as Friday and the EU looks willing to ease budget deficit targets for Madrid, but it could all be in vain as the debt mounts up, according to an HSBC economist.

• Start the 'Rocky' Music—Structured Finance Is Back

  

  Structured finance deals of a type last seen before the financial crisis are set to come back in 2013, according to market experts, signaling a return to the credit boom in 2004.

• France Says Surging Euro 'Too High'

  

  The French government sounded the alarm about the surging value of the euro, vowing to raise the issue with euro zone and G20 partners as concerns about currency wars flare.

• Spain's Rajoy, Ruling Party Deny Secret Slush Fund

  

  Spain's ruling People's Party denied on Thursday that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and other leaders received payments from a slush fund after a newspaper published what it said were secret party accounts.

• Ericsson Shares Surge on Profit Beat

  Shares of Ericsson, the mobile telecom equipment maker, rose 8.2 percent in morning trade, making it the best performer on the Euro Stoxx 600 Index, after the company reported fourth-quarter earnings.