Berlusconi faces crucial vote as EU finance ministers meet for crisis talks

Silvio Berlusconi’s leadership of Italy hangs by a thread as Italian bond prices reach a record high today. More chaos in the Eurozone, where a destabilised Italian government could add to problems in Greece where a temporary coalition government has still not emerged to pass the EU bailout package.

Mr Berlusconi faces a vote today on a routine financial bill, which is now seen as a vote of confidence in his leadership, and EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels for more emergency talks.

The Euro has remained weak with the recent developments, with exchange rates still around their best since March for sending payments in Euros.

Meanwhile in the UK, stronger than expected manufacturing figures have helped keep sterling higher against most currencies in trading today.