FINANCIAL TIMES: ….Markets initially rallied on news that New Democracy and Pasok, two mainstream parties that support the austerity conditions of the eurozone’s bailout, gained enough seats to form a parliamentary majority in Athens. But the optimism was swiftly deflated by dismal bad bank loan figures in Spain that underlined the country’s woes.
Data from the Bank of Spain showed that the non-performing loan ratio of Spanish banks rose to 8.7 per cent of their outstanding portfolios in April – the highest in almost two decades.
The eurozone has already promised €100bn to help recapitalise Spain’s banks, but investors are concerned it could merely increase Madrid’s debt burden and eventually lead to a full sovereign rescue… (more)
