The ministers sent debt-riddled Greece (euro) 8 billion ($10.7 billion) to stem an immediate cash crisis, but they kicked more difficult issues _ such as whether countries should cede some control over their finances to a central European authority _ to the leaders of the European Union who meet next week.
In the latest sign of trouble, Italy was forced to pay a high interest rate on an auction of three-year debt Tuesday. The 7.89 percent rate was nearly three percentage points higher than last month, an enormous increase.
If Italy were to default on its debt of (euro) 1.9 trillion ($2.5 trillion), the fallout could spell ruin for the euro common currency and send shock waves through the global economy.
On Wall Street on Tuesday, a jump in U.S. consumer confidence sent stocks modestly higher. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.3 percent to close at 11,555.63. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.2 percent to 1,195.19. The Nasdaq composite, which consists mostly of technology stocks, fell 0.5 percent to 2,515.51.
The Conference Board, a private research firm, said its Consumer Confidence Index climbed 15 points in November to 56.0 _ an improvement, but still well below the level of 90 that indicates an economy on solid footing. For the latest updates on the stock market, visit Stock Market Today For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today
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