Spanish risk premium falls to 416 points

The Spanish risk premium fell 29 points from Thursday to 416 points on Friday, official figures showed. Positive data from the United States revealing a falling unemployment rate boosted stock markets around the world, reported local media. Rumors that Spain may seek a sovereign bailout also boosted investor sentiment in the Spanish stock market in Madrid. At closing time, the IBEX-35 stock market rose 1.8 percent reaching 7,900 points after being below this figure for eight sessions. Interest rates of 10-year bonds reached 5.68 percent on Friday, improving from Thursday's figure of closer to 6 percent. Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness Luis de Guindos on Thursday said Spain would not need a bailout. Local media reported the Euroepan Union might be discussing acting as a guarantor of 20 or 30 percent of Spain's debt. The EU on Friday added that a Spanish bailout was not imminent.