Mario Draghi, the European Central Bank’s president, at a news conference on Thursday. The bank’s formal ending of its quantitative easing effort comes weeks before the euro turns 20. Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters Frankfurt — One of the biggest money-printing programs of all time, a geyser of cash that may have prevented the collapse of the eurozone, will officially end in a few weeks in a slow-motion wrap-up that reflects lingering risks to the region. The European Central Bank said on Thursday...

The European Central Bank effectively euthanized two small Italian banks late Friday, in another sign that the eurozone financial system remains vulnerable even as the economy improves. The central bank said in a statement that Veneto Banca and Banca Popolare di Vicenza, both based in northern Italy, had failed or were likely to fail because they did not have enough capital to meet regulatory requirements. They become the second and third banks to be declared effectively dead by the central...

FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank took steps Friday to ensure it can oversee trillions of euros in London trading of derivatives and other risky securities even after Britain leaves the European Union. The central bank’s action was an example of how Britain’s vote to leave the bloc — which took place a year ago Friday — could force a realignment of financial markets and undercut London’s status as a global trading center. The central bank asked for a change in European Union legislation...