Analysis: Spanish bailout raises the bar for Italy

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy must step up efforts to curb its colossal debt and revive growth to reverse negative investor sentiment that threatens to push it to the brink, despite a reform drive and a banking system sounder than Spain's.

Italy's bank chief confirms recession in 2012

ROME (AP) — Italy's central bank chief on Saturday predicted that the eurozone's third-largest economy will see a return to growth next year, but he confirmed forecasts that 2012 will be a "year of recession."