Equities around the world jumped yesterday and the euro tumbled on signals the European Central Bank may accelerate its €1tn bond-buying programme over the next two months.

ITALIAN and Spanish 10-year bonds dropped yesterday, pushing yields up to euro-era records versus benchmark German bunds, on concern that slowing growth will hamper efforts to tame the nations’ debt loads.

THE positive spin coming out of the National Treasury Management Agency on Thursday, when it launched its annual report, may or may not charm the sceptics about the future prospects for the Irish economy.