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Stock markets fall on fears over Europe's debt crisis Stock markets fall on fears over Europe's debt crisis
(about 1 hour later)
The euro and stock markets fell, and borrowing costs of indebted countries rose, as worries over debt crises in the eurozone and US mounted.The euro and stock markets fell, and borrowing costs of indebted countries rose, as worries over debt crises in the eurozone and US mounted.
A financial healthcheck on 90 European banks, published last Friday, failed to ease nervous markets.A financial healthcheck on 90 European banks, published last Friday, failed to ease nervous markets.
The euro touched a record low against the Swiss franc, and bond yields in Spain and Italy hit new highs.The euro touched a record low against the Swiss franc, and bond yields in Spain and Italy hit new highs.
Financial shares fell sharply, with Royal Bank of Scotland and Societe Generale down more than 4% at midday. Financial shares fell sharply, with Royal Bank of Scotland and Societe Generale down about 5%.
The FTSE 100 and France's Cac 40 shed 1%, while Germany's Dax was 1.5% down. The FTSE 100 and Germany's Dax were down 1%, while France's Cac 40 shed 1.7%.
Wall Street opened lower, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes about 0.6% down. Wall Street opened lower, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes about 1% down.
Meanwhile, the price of gold topped $1,600 an ounce for the first time as investors put money into the haven commodity. The spot gold price hit $1,600.40, before pulling back slightly to $1,598.76.Meanwhile, the price of gold topped $1,600 an ounce for the first time as investors put money into the haven commodity. The spot gold price hit $1,600.40, before pulling back slightly to $1,598.76.
On Friday, eight European banks failed a stress test on their finances, while another 16 were said to be near the danger zone.On Friday, eight European banks failed a stress test on their finances, while another 16 were said to be near the danger zone.
The European Banking Authority published the results of the tests after European stock markets had closed.The European Banking Authority published the results of the tests after European stock markets had closed.
On Thursday eurozone leaders are due to attend a summit to put together a second bail-out package for debt-laden Greece.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she wants clear commitments from private investors that they would contribute to the bail-out.
On Sunday she described the summit as "urgently necessary" and said she wanted "a result".
'Pull together'
The head of the European Central Bank (ECB) Jean-Claude Trichet called on governments to speak with one voice, saying they can overcome the debt crisis if they stick together.
He said: "It is a question of will and determination. The countries of Europe have always demonstrated that they pull together when the challenges are very high."
But he repeated that the ECB will not accept Greek bonds as collateral for loans if the country defaults on its debts.
However, some economists believe an orderly default is the only way Athens can resolve its debt crisis.
The results of the stress tests failed to ease markets' worries because they did not take into account the impact of any country defaulting.The results of the stress tests failed to ease markets' worries because they did not take into account the impact of any country defaulting.
"On the face of it, the tests highlight that the European banking sector is in better health than expected, although crucially investor concern will remain over the credibility of the tests given that the tests did not include an assessment of the impact of sovereign defaults," said Lee Hardman, an analyst at the Bank of Tokyo."On the face of it, the tests highlight that the European banking sector is in better health than expected, although crucially investor concern will remain over the credibility of the tests given that the tests did not include an assessment of the impact of sovereign defaults," said Lee Hardman, an analyst at the Bank of Tokyo.
In a further sign of scepticism in the financial markets, yields on Italian and Spanish bonds rose. 'Pull together'
Record low Eurozone leaders are due to attend a summit on Thursday to try to put together a second bail-out package for debt-laden Greece.
On Sunday German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the summit as "urgently necessary" and said she wanted "a result".
She wants clear commitments from private investors, such as banks, that they would contribute to the bail-out, expected to be worth about 115bn euros ($160bn; £100bn).
This puts her at odds with the European Central Bank (ECB), however. If bondholders were to bear some of the burden of helping debt-ridden countries, this could be seen by the bank and credit ratings agencies as a sort of default.
ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet repeated on Monday that it would not accept Greek bonds as collateral for loans if the country defaults on its debts.
"If a country defaults, we will no longer be able to accept its defaulted government bonds as normal eligible collateral," he told the Financial Times Deutschland.
That could worsen the crisis facing Greece and its banks, cutting off a vital source of funding.
Mr Trichet called on governments to speak with one voice, saying they could overcome the debt crisis if they worked together.
He said: "It is a question of will and determination. The countries of Europe have always demonstrated that they pull together when the challenges are very high."
Bonds surge
In a further sign of scepticism in the financial markets that governments will be able to bring an end to the debt crisis, yields on Italian and Spanish bonds rose.
The rate on ten-year Italian bonds exceeded 6%, the most since the euro's debut in 1999. The Spanish equivalent rose almost 0.2 percentage points to 6.37%.The rate on ten-year Italian bonds exceeded 6%, the most since the euro's debut in 1999. The Spanish equivalent rose almost 0.2 percentage points to 6.37%.
Confidence in Spain's economy was dented by news that its banks have 117.6bn euros ($165.4bn, £102bn) in outstanding loans that are at risk of not being recovered.Confidence in Spain's economy was dented by news that its banks have 117.6bn euros ($165.4bn, £102bn) in outstanding loans that are at risk of not being recovered.
The figure, published by Spain's central bank, represents 6.5% of banks' total assets in May - and is the highest bad loan ratio since June 1995.The figure, published by Spain's central bank, represents 6.5% of banks' total assets in May - and is the highest bad loan ratio since June 1995.
Meanwhile, the euro fell as dealers bought up Swiss francs and yen. In trading in Asia the euro fell at one point to a record low against the Swiss franc of 1.1365.Meanwhile, the euro fell as dealers bought up Swiss francs and yen. In trading in Asia the euro fell at one point to a record low against the Swiss franc of 1.1365.
Concerns among investors have also been fuelled by the Obama administration's failure to agree a debt-ceiling deal.Concerns among investors have also been fuelled by the Obama administration's failure to agree a debt-ceiling deal.
The US risks defaulting on its debts unless Congress can agree new rules that will allow Washington to borrow more money.The US risks defaulting on its debts unless Congress can agree new rules that will allow Washington to borrow more money.