Ireland to give green light for hedge funds to lend

(Reuters) - Ireland, one of the biggest hubs for funds in Europe, will allow hedge funds based in the country to lend to companies under new rules drawn up by the central bank, the bank said.

Strong demand for EU bail-out bond sale

The European Union enjoyed strong demand for its third bond to raise money for the rescues of Portugal and Ireland, in a sign of investors’ confidence that the eurozone can survive the debt crisis.

Despite rising concern over contagion, and the single currency coming under pressure this week, banks, pension funds, insurers and other investors from Europe and Asia, including some big sovereign wealth funds, bought the debt.