Euro, Risk Appetite Climb As Ireland Intimates It Will Tap Funds Offer
Euro, Risk Appetite Climb As Ireland Intimates It Will Tap Funds Offer
The euro spiked higher as Ireland's central bank Governor said that he expects Ireland to ask for assistance from the EU and IMF. He said that the figure could run into the tens of billions of euros and he acknowledges that banks must hold additional capital. Speculation has been rife that Ireland will ask for aid since early in the Asia session and the confirmation has seen the euro spike to fresh highs as concerns over Ireland's ability to handle its debt alone are finally put to rest.
In recent days the euro has been under significant pressure with Irish obstinacy to requesting funds said to have made ECB President Trichet "mad" (Irish Times).Irish officials had said that funding is available through 2011 and it is fully capable of handling higher borrowing costs. In an abrupt U-turn a deal now seems to be in the offing, Ireland's central bank Governor stressed that getting the terms and getting conditions of any assistance right is essential. Adding that if an agreement is reached it will be a loan and not a bailout, noting that he is confident a package will be agreed upon as officials would not have arrived in Dublin if there was no hope for consensus. The government initially wanted a clear distinction between an emergency bank aid and financial help for the State, there is now a reluctant acceptance that the former will have to be drawn by the government on behalf of the institutions.
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