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Spain defends its solvency
MADRID - International markets backed the Spanish economy this week after days of intense rumors regarding the country's need for a financial rescue plan.
The successful auction of 10-year and 30-year bonds on Thursday, and the solvency of Spanish banks, reduced Spain's risk premium while the Madrid stock-exchange finished the week leading European gains.
In a politically weak moment for the government, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero enjoyed the support of the International Monetary Fund （IMF） and the European Council after it had encouraged the publication of the stress-tests on the major European banks.
"Nothing （is） better than transparency to demonstrate our solvency, to offer trust and to leave so many unfounded rumors behind," Zapatero said.
Rumors and denials
Rumors about the possibility of Spain needing a Greek-style Euro bailout were recurrent inside Spain and abroad. Despite the government's denials, and with 12 percent of the European Union （EU）'s GDP at stake, growing doubts about Spain's solvency set off the alarm bells in the financial markets.
Once again, pressure on Spain's debt rose sharply. Yield on 10-year bond reached almost 5 percent and the spread with the German bund, a European benchmark, went over 230 basis points, a peak figure in the euro's history.
Spain is making increased efforts to persuade investors of the viability of its adjustment plan with which the government seeks to cut back the third largest public deficit in the Euro-zone （11.2 percent of its GDP）, to restructure its savings banks, and to reform its labor market so as to bring the economy back to growth.
Some experts believe, however, that the new policies will not be enough to recover market confidence.
Chairman of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria （BBVA）, Spain's second largest bank, warned this week that "financial markets have withdrawn their confidence in our country."
According to Francisco Gonzalez, "for most businesses and Spanish companies, international markets are closed."
The sovereign debt crisis was relieved with the Treasury's last auction, which managed on Thursday to allocate another 3.47 billion euros （$4.29 billion） in 10-year and 30-year securities. Nevertheless, Spain had to pay a very high interest rate to attract investors.