New hint on 'e-bonds'

EUROPEAN finance ministers moved closer to the idea of Eurobonds and increasing the €750bn bailout fund.

Although German chancellor Angela Merkel appeared to rule out 'e-bonds', her finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble hinted at a softening of his attitude. Meanwhile, EU Finance ministers have resolved to conduct a new round of more stringent stress tests on Europe's banks, a decision that reflects lingering dissatisfaction with the first pan-European examination of the sector.