Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Global Shares Tumble on Greece Debt Fears

THE TELEGRAPH: Global stock markets tumbled on growing fears that a rescue package for Greece might not be enough to prevent a debt crisis from spreading in Europe.

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Stock markets in Europe and the US fell heavily on Tuesday, hit by continued jitters over Greek debt. Photograph: The Telegraph

Asian markets mirrored heavy falls in the United States and Europe, extending the biggest fall in global shares in three months.

It came at Greece was paralysed by a nationwide general strike on Wednesday - the first major test of the socialist government's resolve to push through unprecedented austerity cuts needed to avert a fiscal meltdown.

The euro continued to weaken against the dollar in Asian trading, hitting $1.2958, as investors doubted whether €110bn (£95bn) of loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund could stop contagion to other vulnerable countries such as Spain and Portugal.

Investors are worried that these countries may need even larger debt bailouts. >>> | Wednesday, May 05, 2010