Italy's economy grew by just 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 1.0 percent year-on-year national statistics institute ISTAT says.

Italy's parliament has approved a 20 billion euro plan to prop up the country's weaker banks, starting with a bailout for Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

Shares in Monte dei Paschi suffered further steep falls on Monday as it tried to raise five billion euros by year-end to avoid a state bailout.

Italy's largest bank, UniCredit, is to raise 13 billion euros in a share issue to shore up its balance sheet. It will also cut 14,000 jobs.

The world’s oldest operating bank Monte dei Paschi needs to raise five billion euros by the end of this month.

Markets were a little edgy at the opening - the Milan stock exchange fell as much as 2 percent - but most investors don't expect the country will leave the euro zone.

Matteo Renzi gets a boost ahead of Sunday's referendum with better-than-expected GDP figures.

Investor confidence in Italian banks ability to raise money to cover bad debt takes a tumble as fears over government's future weigh on market.

This edition of Real Economy comes from Bologna in Italy and Poland and focuses on the regions Smart Specialisation plans.

Patrizio Bianchi, Regional Minister for Coordination of the European Policies for Growth, Education, Vocational training, University, Research and Employment, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy talks about

Italy's industrial production declined by less than expected in September, with a healthy gain of 1.2 percent from July to September.

With two months still to go, the deaths of refugees and migrants crossing to Europe has hit an all-time high

Italy's Monte dei Paschi says its restructuring plan includes writing off bad loans, job cuts and raising five billion euros in new capital.

It has been confirmed Italy's economy stagnated in the period from April to June not growing at all from the first three months of the year.

German factory orders unexpectedly fell in June as demand from eurozone countries plunged by 8.5 percent compared to May.

Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena is reportedly about to be removed from the STOXX Europe 600 index - a listing of the region's top shares.

Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has been talking up the country's third largest bank, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, even after it received the worst score in Europe-wide stress tests.

A mountain of bad debts and a lack of capital reserves are fueling an Italian banking crisis, which has been thrown into sharp focus by Britain's vote to leave the European Union.