By William L. Watts
FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- The European Central Bank on Wednesday said its balance sheet expanded by 239.4 billion euros ($312.9 billion) to 2.733 trillion in the week ended Dec. 23. The expansion was driven by a 214.1 billion euro rise in lending to euro-area credit institutions. Analysts credited the jump with renewed pressure on the euro and on European and U.S. equities amid thin trading volume.
