Warning about Spain sparks fresh concerns over future of euro

A WARNING that Spain’s credit rating may be cut resulted in a fresh rush of concern about the euro yesterday on the eve of a meeting of EU leaders determined to keep markets calm.

In an ironic twist to the ongoing fears of contagion from Greece and Ireland that saw them being bailed out by the EU/IMF, figures released for 2009 show Ireland remained one of the wealthiest countries in the union.

Last year, for the first time in almost a decade, it fell from second to third place, behind Luxembourg and the Netherlands.