Iran's currency plummeted at least 17 percent in trading on Monday, according to media and an online exchange website, severely adding to strains on the Islamic republic's sanctions-hit economy.

The currency, the rial, weakened to 34,700 to the dollar by the end of the day's trading, according to the Mesghal.com website, a drop of 17 percent compared to the previous day's rate of 29,600.

Official data show that unemployment in the 17 countries that use the euro remained at its record high of 11.4 percent in August.

While European leaders have managed to calm financial markets in recent months with promises to cut spending and build a tighter union, they have been unable to halt the rising tide of joblessness.

A planned recapitalization of struggling Spanish banks will help shore up confidence but the amount in rescue funds sought by Madrid is not enough to keep the banks stable in stress situations, Moody's said Monday.

"Recapitalization will materially enhance the solvency of affected institutions and help restore market confidence in Spain's banking system as a whole," said the ratings agency.

Tens of thousands of left-wing protesters took to the streets of Paris on Sunday to denounce EU-driven austerity measures being pushed on member states, a day after similar protests in Spain and Portugal.

Chanting "Resistance!" protesters marched through central Paris in a rally organizers said was aimed at fighting EU-imposed austerity, not at criticizing the government of Socialist President Francois Hollande.

Governments around the world must work out how to cope with ageing, a U.N. report said on Monday, warning that developing nations with lots of young workers may one day find their elderly populations a burden.

The study by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and HelpAge International also urged countries to improve medical provision to extend the years of health that older people can enjoy.

Iran's currency, the rial, dived six percent to a new low of around 28,600 to the dollar in open trading on Saturday, deepening a month-long sell-off, according to exchange tracking websites.

The new rate was sharply lower than the 26,900 rials per dollar fetched on Thursday, the last day of trading.

Spain's public debt is set to reach 85.3% of gross domestic product in 2012 and 90.5% in 2013, well above previous forecasts, according to figures in a draft budget submitted to parliament on Saturday.

The budget approved by Prime Minister Marian Rajoy's right-wing cabinet on Thursday, tightens austerity in the teeth of growing protests, easing the path to a widely expected sovereign bailout.

Fitch Ratings on Friday maintained Britain's "AAA" credit rating with a negative outlook, warning that weak economic growth and a rising debt level was increasing the likelihood of a downgrade.

Fitch said "weaker than expected growth and fiscal out-turns in 2012 have increased pressure on the UK's 'AAA' rating".

China and Japan on Saturday marked the 40th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties, but no major celebrations were likely with relations at historic lows over a simmering territorial row.

No major events were planned in Japan after China on Sunday postponed a ceremony to commemorate four decades of diplomatic relations as tensions escalate over the uninhabited East China sea islands.

France on Friday unveiled shock fiscal action to plug a 37-billion-euro hole in public finances with the toughest package of tax rises and spending cuts the country has known in an economic downturn.

The 2013 budget adopted by President Francois Hollande's cabinet commits the ruling Socialists to an austerity program at a time when the economy is teetering on the brink of recession.