Markets slip across Europe, spreads up

The spreads were up and markets slouched throughout Europe on Monday as investors awaited a German constitutional court ruling on Wednesday to decide whether Germany will participate in the eurozone's rescue fund. The spread between Italian bonds and the German benchmark bund rose from 350.8 points Friday to 363 points at the close of trading Monday. The yield, and important measure of investor confidence in Italy's ability to weather the euro crisis, rose to 5.18%. The equivalent spread in Spain closed up at 415 basis points while the yield was 5.70%. Milan's Ftse Mib index lost 0.11% to close at 16,092 points. Madrid's Ibex index was down 0.32% at 7,857.70 points. The Frankfurt stock exchange was virtually unchanged, down 0.01% to close at 7,213.7 points, and the London Ftse 100 was also little moved, down 0.03% at 5,793.20 on the day. The Paris bourse recorded a 0.37% loss to close at 3,506.05 points.