The euro-area economy will shrink in back-to-back years for the first time, driving unemployment higher as governments, consumers and companies curb spending, the European Commission said.

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These are reducing returns earned by banks as well as forcing them to shrink their balance-sheets and cut back on trading.

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Though no one tracks the total number of noninvasive or minimally invasive surgeries across the board, medical device makers say the trend is similar for other types of surgery as well--be it to relieve back pain, implant coronary stents, or shrink the stomachs of very obese people.

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His 32% stake will increase to 38% after a buy-back of Arcelor shares (decided before the deal with Severstal was concluded), which will shrink the shareholder base.

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Bankia - which lost 3bn euros last year and expects to lose 19bn euros this year - said it would shrink itself by some 50bn euros by selling assets to Sareb, and also by cutting back on lending and by selling off investments in Spanish industry, including a 12% stake in International Airlines Group, the owner of Spanish national airline Iberia and of British Airways.

BBC: Spain banks to cut jobs and shrink in restructuring