THE European Central Bank threw Portugal a temporary lifeline yesterday by buying up its bonds as market and peer pressure mounted for Lisbon to seek an international bailout soon.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Jan 2011, 14:48 BST
Updated 10th Jan 2011, 20:26 BST
Germany, France and other eurozone countries are said to be pushing Portugal to seek an EU-IMF assistance programme, following Greece and Ireland, to prevent contagion spreading to Spain.