Euro Finance Ministers Agree to $37 Billion for Spanish Banks

Posted July 10th, 2012 at 1:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Eurozone finance ministers have agreed to a $37 billion bailout for Spain's ailing banks.

Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker said Tuesday the money should be available by the end of the month pending final approval of the deal.

Spain has asked for $125 billion in aid as its borrowing costs have soared. Officials said Tuesday the total amount of the bailout could reach that level, but that the loan agreement requires Spain to implement banking sector reforms.

The ministers also agreed to give Spain an extra year – until 2014 – to cut its budget deficit to the European Union limit of 3 percent.

Meanwhile Tuesday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said the unemployment rate in advanced world economies will remain high, at around 7.7 percent, until the end of next year leaving about 48 million people jobless.