EUROPEAN Central Bank officials acknowledged "uncertainties and fragilities" affecting the economy at their latest policy meeting - but agreed they weren't enough to weaken confidence that the eurozone's domestic strength will prevail.

European Central Bank officials warned that uncertainty and tension over Italy’s expansive budget risk causing damage to the country’s economy in the long-run.

Mario Draghi’s grilling by European lawmakers on Monday is the highlight of a critical few days for the European Central Bank as the president considers whether more stimulus is needed to overcome the euro-area slowdown.

Germany’s first economic contraction since 2015 was led by a drop in exports and private consumption, a trend that needs to be reversed if the Europe’s largest economy is to rebound before the end of the year.

The euro-area economy grew at the slowest pace in almost four years in November, denting expectations for a pickup in the fourth quarter.

Hong Kong (AFP) - Asian equities chalked up modest gains Thursday in light trading ahead of the US Thanksgiving holiday, following a rebound in energy and tech stocks on Wall Street.