French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they are "convinced" Greece will stay in the euro area as they faced international calls to step up efforts in fighting the region's debt crisis.

The euro rose after the leaders of Europe's two biggest economies issued a statement yesterday following a telephone conversation with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. It erased most of those gains today. Papandreou committed to meet deficit-reduction targets demanded as a condition for an international bailout, according to statements from governments in Berlin, Athens and Paris.

European governments are aiming to ratify a July 21 agreement to bolster the euro region's bailout fund and extend a second rescue to Greece. Investor skittishness over the spread of the debt crisis has raised banks' funding costs and roiled markets worldwide.