Germany pulled the eurozone’s economy back from the brink of recession at the start of 2012 but stagnation in France and contraction in southern Europe underlined sharply differing fortunes in the 17-nation bloc.

DUBLIN’s ISEQ index shrugged off its negative start to the week, with a near 1.5% rebound yesterday; as European markets — in general — benefited from hopeful investors unwilling to be put off by negative soundings coming from the IMF and a credit ratings downgrade for Italy.