NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Spanish bank Banco Santander  (SAN) - Get Report rose 6.11% to $7.29 in afternoon trading Friday as the euro strengthened against the dollar.

The euro grew stronger after German chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to keep the currency intact despite the strain of keeping Greece afloat. Merkel intervened in a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday night as the chasm between Greece and its international creditors widened, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Merkel said payments to Greece could start if the country's list of reforms is approved. Tsipras told the other leaders present at the meeting that he would submit a new list of economic reforms within the next few days.

The German chancellor also invited Tsipras to face-to-face talks in Berlin on Monday.

SAN

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