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• IMF Approves $4.3 Billion Loan for Greece

  

  The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday approved a $4.3 billion (€3.24 billion) loan installment to Greece, following an economic review.

• European Markets Close 

  

  CNBC's Simon Hobbs reports on all the market moving events in Europe today, including

• Germany Wants Its Gold Back—Should You Worry?

  

  The world's second-biggest holder of gold reserves, Germany, is planning to bring home some of its gold held in New York and Paris - a move that would mark a breakdown of trust between the world's major central banks, analysts said.

• Finland's Katainen: EU Without UK Like 'Fish Without Chips'

  

  The EU without Britain would be like "fish without chips", the prime minister of Finland said on Wednesday as he made a case for Britain remaining an influential player in Europe.

• Hungary Attacks Roubini Over Currency ‘Advice’

  

  A spat has broken out between Hungary's Economy Ministry and Roubini Global Economics about who is to blame for the downward spiral of the national currency, the forint, after Roubini's firm Roubini Global Economics(RGE) recommended shorting the currency.

• HSBC Cuts 2013 Gold Forecast

  

  HSBC, which had forecasted gold prices would hit $2000 per ounce in the second-half of 2012, is now paring back its forecasts for 2013.

• ECB's Nowotny: Banks Less Reliant on Our Funding

  Europe's banks are have become less reliant on central bank funding, European Central Bank policymaker Ewald Nowotny told CNBC on Wednesday.

• Role Model of European Austerity Turns to Stimulus

  

  As southern euro zone countries groan under the weight of austerity measures, the Baltic country Latvia has been so enthusiastic and seemingly successful in its application of austerity measures that even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Latvia to not go too far.

• Long Time Bear: Buy Into European Stocks

  

  One of the more notorious market bears has tempered his trademark gloomy predictions boosting the hopes of bulls for a broader shift in investor sentiment. The FT reports.

• Christmas Turkeys, Holidays Push Up Euro Zone Prices

  

  Europeans' appetite for turkeys and Christmas getaways pushed up the cost of living in the euro zone in December, but the European Central Bank expects the rate of inflation to cool this year.

• European Shares Lower on Weak Auto Sales 

  

  CNBC's Ross Westgate reports on all the market moving events from around the globe, as the euro moves into positive territory.

• ECB's Nowotny: Don't Overplay German GDP  

  

  Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian Central Bank and ECB policymaker, speaks to CNBC about the outlook for the euro zone in 2013 and the levels of growth expected.

• Germany’s Strong Man of Europe Image Threatened

  

  Germany’s economic strength is showing increased signs of fading, as the euro zone crisis continues.

• Helicopter Crashes in South London

  A helicopter crashed into a crane in south London Wednesday morning at around 8 a.m. local time, close to Vauxhall train station.

• Europe to Remain a Drag on Global Growth for at Least 2 Years: Strategist 

  

  Michael McCarthy, Chief Market Strategist at CMC Markets says that current official forecasts indicating a strong euro zone recovery are wildly optimistic.

• Banks and Autos Lead European Shares Lower 

  

  Karen Cho takes you through the European market open where all eyes are on US earnings with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan due to report.

• European Car Sales Plunge in December Ends Woeful Year

  

  Demand for new cars in Europe fell to the lowest level recorded since 1995, closing a year burdened by heavy declines in all major euro zone economies.

• Germany's Growth Could Be Hampered By Euro Zone: Expert 

  

  James Ashley, Senior Economist at RBC Capital Markets says while Germany's economic fundamentals are strong, the external environment is impacting its growth.

• ‘Mac’ Tries to Blaze Trail for Merkel Third Term

  

  An election on Sunday in Germany's second-biggest state will be a crucial test of Chancellor Angela Merkel's chances of winning a third term.

• Spain Calls on Germany to Boost Growth

  

  Mariano Rajoy has called on Germany and other creditor countries in the euro zone to do more to stimulate growth, arguing that a switch to a more expansionary policy would boost economic recovery across the single currency area. The Financial Times reports.