European banks may need to raise 200bn euros

European banks may have to raise a collective 200bn euros ($276bn; £175bn) to boost their capital reserves.

The proposal is being made by the European Banking Authority (EBA), which wants the banks to have more funds in reserve to help protect them from any future shocks in the financial markets.

BBC business editor Robert Peston said banks may struggle to raise the money.

Slovakia's failure to ratify eurozone bailout expansion "no big drama": EU official

BRUSSELS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday called on all parties in the Slovak parliament to rise above short-term politics, and support bolstering the eurozone's safety net European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) in their next vote this week.

In a joint statement by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the two leaders urged Slovak parties to seize the next opportunity to ensure a swift ratification of expanded powers for the EFSF.

German exporters shrug off crisis as shipments rise

German exports rose in August for the first time in three months.

Shipments grew 3.5% over the month, according to seasonally adjusted data from the Federal Statistics Office.

About 90.5bn euros ($122.9bn, £78.5bn) of goods were exported. Imports were unchanged at 76.7bn euros.

Eurozone bailout fund faces key Slovakian vote

Slovakia faces a key vote later on measures to bolster the powers of the eurozone bailout fund, seen as vital in combating the bloc's debt crisis.

With one coalition party vowing to abstain, the goverment looks set to lose the vote, but may keep trying.

After Malta approved the plans late on Monday, Slovakia is now the last of the eurozone's 17 member states to vote.

Euro crisis: a torrent of words, but no clarity

Europe can't stop talking. Take yesterday. The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, was in Brussels. Greece, she said, must remain part of the eurozone and get "a chance to get back on its feet".

Of course, to state the ambition that Greece should stay in the eurozone is the easy part. The more important questions, however, are these: Does Germany believe a Greek default inevitable? And, is Germany preparing a plan to manage such a default in the weeks ahead?